In spite of being a simple words game, that would make me feel less uncomfortable, as there could be a mysterious field still less mysterious than matter that passes through itself etc. Moreover, couldn't be that there exist some high order terms that play a role only when mass reach big values, i. e. those comparable to a galactic mass? How/why this cannot be the case in general relativity?
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1$\begingroup$ Whether something would make you feel better is not really part of the scope of a question. I'm unclear how the question about high order terms relates to the question in the title. $\endgroup$– James KCommented Jul 11, 2017 at 17:43
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4$\begingroup$ There is no proof positive yet as to the nature of dark matter. The things you've heard are speculation. That being said, the hypothesis currently being favored by scientists is that dark matter is not fundamentally different from matter - just a different kind of particle that only interacts gravitationally. If that is the case, then dark matter would definitely not be "massless". Perhaps it's better to start by reviewing the current agreed-upon science: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter $\endgroup$– Florin AndreiCommented Jul 11, 2017 at 17:53
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$\begingroup$ After reading the link kindly provided by Florin Andrei I feel more comfortable. More seriously the meaning of my question was if someone could think of a non matter related gravitational effect. $\endgroup$– AlchimistaCommented Jul 11, 2017 at 18:05
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3$\begingroup$ The "non-matter-related gravitational effect" you talk about is already considered an alternative. These generally fall under the "MOdified Newtonian Dynamics" (MOND) hypotheses. $\endgroup$– pelaCommented Jul 11, 2017 at 19:31
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$\begingroup$ I like "Transparent Galaxy Glue". Lets make that a thing. That said "matter" as opposed to "energy" and :"dark" meaning, invisible. Dark Matter is actually a pretty good term at least for now, until it's better identified. $\endgroup$– userLTKCommented Jul 11, 2017 at 22:47
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I don't think the title of your question and your question are really in sync here and I'm not sure I will correctly answer your question. However, I will give it a try.
To give you a hint of the conclusion. My answer would be, "NO".
There are several clues / reasons why I come to this answer.
- Gravity is not necessarily a real thing. When you read the literature concerning general relativity about gravity you will learn that acceleration can be experienced as gravity and in the fabric of space/time gravity is "merely" a curvature in this fabric that. This means that gravity is highly debatable as something that could be seen as an independent force / object in the universe.
- When gravity exists as a force, whether it is an exchange of gravitons between two objects with a mass, or whether it is a curvature in space / time due to the mass of an object, the phenomenon "gravity" is always related to the mass of an object and doesn't stand on its own as an independent force of nature.
- Dark matter is not a "mysterious" thing that passes through itself. Dark matter is just the container concept of matter out there that doesn't interact a lot with other matter, but just leaves its marks in the universe by showing a gravitational force as interaction with other matter. Since we have only little understanding of gravity and we still have difficulty measuring gravity as a force in the universe, we have difficulty understanding and measuring dark matter directly. This doesn't mean it is not out there.
So, to get back to your second part of the question, "massless gravity", this is not a viable alternative. Gravity exists either by massive objects exchanging gravitons and therefore exercizing gravity upon each other, or a massive object "denting" the fabric of space / time and therefore creating a gravity field. In either case gravity cannot be seen as a farce that exists without the existence of mass.
Secondly, to the first part of your question. Whether we can observe objects directly or indirectly, this doesn't make it more or less realistic. Dark matter is generally accepted to be there. We just haven't found a way to measure it. We can only see that the visible matter in the universe can't explain the gravitational pull on the visible matter and therefore we assume there is some other matter out there we haven't been able to "see". Hence, dark matter.
However, dark matter does interact through gravity and our current successes in measuring gravitational waves might also result in a better understanding of gravity and how to measure the effect of dark matter on the gravitational pull in the universe. So, to answer your question: "No, we call dark matter because we can only observe it through its influence on other matter due to gravity. There is no such thing as gravity without mass."
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$\begingroup$ Thanksv, you snd the latter commenter have catch my point in spite of my poor formulation. Although the term remain not very delucidative, it was an (extra-mass)less gravity was I was thinking of (as a line for physical speculation, search of a theory). I am happy to see that a theory such as non linear newtonian mechanics is a line. I am not a Focus channel person, and I was a bit surprised of downvoting. It's not that difficult to make assertions if this is citing sentences that resume a theory status of affairs, especially when the theory is called Standard. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 9:21
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$\begingroup$ Well you did not catch my point, that was for commenter above. However, your attitude is what should be possibly found here. As you explained your point (on which I do agree, for the little I know / understand). I can miss many points in cosmology, but association mass- gravity is definitely in my mind. Wondering if an extra exotic mass is strictly necessary or different lines of thinking exist. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2017 at 9:30
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$\begingroup$ There is a different line of thinking when you see mass as an energy fluctuation in different fields. For instance a photon is an energy fluctuation in the electromagnetic field and a Higgs boson in the Higgs field, etc. In this line of thinking mass is just an instance of energy. However, this energy is what curves space/time and creates the gravity. According to many gravity does not exist and this is why massless gravity is difficult to accept. However, I'm open for any well thought through theory that can be proved or rejected. $\endgroup$– MacUserTCommented Jul 22, 2017 at 13:42