I've always thought that something doesn't seem right with the "dark energy" hypothesis to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe. This theory, however, makes perfect sense and is actually quite mind blowing...

Dark Energy Debunked By Lumpy Universe Expansion

As far as dark matter goes, I have an hypothesis on that (with NO evidence, of course, which is why it's an hypothesis and not a theory). I think it's possible that dark matter could be impressions from a parallel universe that press down on us where regular matter is dense in that universe.

You can think of normal spacetime as a stretched out bedsheet. Flat. Uniform. Place a bowling ball in it and now the sheet (i.e. spacetime) bends. This is how planets orbit stars. Simple high-school physics.

Now, imagine ours is just one universe in a bubbling sea of universe (the multiverse theory - but scientific, not like in comic books). Instead of bubbles, however, think of each universe as another bedsheet. If there was one right up next to our bedsheet, the regular matter in our universe could also leave an impression by "pushing down" on that other universe. Hence, dark matter. We can detect its gravity, but there's nothing really there. It just bends our spacetime.

In any case, that's my hypothesis. If I had the time (and proper knowledge) to research it, and could prove it, I'd collect my Nobel Prize. I'm just an armchair astrophysicist. LOL.

But dark energy would totally be explained by changes in the way time flows in spacial voids. We already have proven that time travels slower in strong gravity wells. If time travels really fast in the voids between the galaxies, that would explain why it appears expansion is accelerating. It's not. Time is just moving faster there.

These are the things I think about in the shower.

Your thoughts?

BTW: I love that I can post things like this here because all of you guys are intelligent and we can have thought-provoking conversations. I gave up on Facebook for meaningful conversation long ago.