Our model of the universe is deeply flawed — unless space is actually a 'sticky fluid,' new research hints

Recent observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument have revealed discrepancies in our understanding of cosmic expansion, prompting researcher Muhammad Ghulam Khuwajah Khan to propose that space itself may possess "bulk viscosity" — acting like a sticky fluid that creates drag on the universe's expansion. Khan's model treats space as containing "spatial phonons" or vibrations that generate resistance, potentially explaining why galaxies aren't expanding at the predicted rate according to standard dark energy theory.