In a ‘Dark Dimension,’ Physicists Search for the Universe’s Missing Matter

An idea derived from string theory suggests that dark matter is hiding in a (relatively) large extra dimension. Cumrun Vafa, Irene Valenzuela and Miguel Montero crafted the dark dimension scenario, in which massive gravitons inhabit a large extra dimension. The theory makes testable predictions that physicists are investigating now.

As far I know, testable predictions of string theory were already disproved with experiments 1, 2, 3 - or not? This doesn't mean, that some concepts of string theory, especially the (concept of) extradimensions don't have physical merit. Try to imagine that sounds i.e. longitudinal waves spread beneath water surface: it makes surface wobbling randomly thus deformed and of larger specific area. Along such a surface the surface ripples will propagate more slowly, it thus exhibits a kind of gravitational lensing effect like space-time deformed by presence of massive bodies.

In dense aether model the space-time can be modelled by water surface as it forms a 3D foam of density fluctuations of superfluous aether, not dissimilar from density fluctuation of supercritical fluid or hypothetical core of dense stars. Water surface has its apparent extradimension too: underwater environment, where the actual vortices and scalar (pressure) waves propagate. Dark matter corresponds the turbulence which forms around islands due to shielding of transverse (surface) waves in their proximity. This leads into prevalence of scalar waves and magnetic fluctuations of vacuum around massive objects, which manifests itself as a dark matter.

Other than that, these fluctuations are no more extradimensional, "dark" and mysterious, than magnetic field itself. We are used to accept and denominate many common but apparently extramundane phenomena acting at distance as a "fields" without thinking about their extradimensional nature. But firsts aetherists like Descartes, R. Hooke or F. de Duillier were already accustomed with consideration of magnetic fields as a manifestation of invisible turbulence of vacuum. During Victorian era this view was very prevalent (Kelvin, Maxwell) and it may be interesting, that very last aeterist in this regard was young Einstein himself. See also:

• The search for hidden dimensions comes up empty again
• Infinite-dimensional symmetry opens up possibility of a new perspective of old physics.