‘Less clumpy’ universe may suggest existence of mysterious forces

Survey could mean there is a crucial component missing from so-called standard model of physics

One of the most precise surveys of the structure of the universe has suggested it is less clumpy" than expected, in findings that could indicate the existence of mysterious forces at work.

The observations by the Dark Energy Survey and the South Pole Telescope chart the distribution of matter with the aim of understanding the competing forces that shaped the evolution of the universe and govern its ultimate fate. The extraordinarily detailed analysis adds to a body of evidence that suggests there may be a crucial component missing from the so-called standard model of physics.