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What this IIT Physicist found about the universe has amazed scientists- Here's what Muhammad Ghulam Khuwajah Khan proposed!

A physicist proposes that the universe might not be empty but act like a viscous fluid, resisting expansion. This bold idea could explain fluctuations in cosmic growth and challenge traditional dark energy models.

February 17, 2026 / 18:35 IST
Muhammad Ghulam Khuwajah Khan, a physicist at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, proposed that the universe is not truly empty. (Image: Canva)
Snapshot AI
  • Physicist Khan proposes the universe acts like a viscous fluid
  • This model could explain varying cosmic expansion speeds
  • The idea is theoretical and not yet widely tested or accepted

For centuries, scientists have described space as mostly empty. Galaxies float in a vacuum, separated by vast distances. Dark energy, a mysterious force, is thought to drive the universe’s expansion. But one physicist has proposed a bold new idea. The universe might not be empty at all. Instead, it could behave like a viscous fluid with cosmic resistance.

What is this idea proposed?

Galaxies float through a vacuum, separated by vast distances for centuries.  A new idea challenges this view. Physicist Muhammad Ghulam Khuwajah Khan suggests the universe behaves like a viscous fluid. This cosmic fluid resists expansion, creating a kind of built-in drag. It could explain why the universe expands at varying speeds.

Who is the physicist behind this idea?

The proposal comes from Muhammad Ghulam Khuwajah Khan. He is a researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur. This scientist has studied cosmology and the mysteries of dark energy. His model is bold because it challenges the long-standing assumption of empty space.

Where is this idea used?

Currently, the idea is theoretical. It was proposed to explain small mismatches in cosmic expansion measurements. Observatories like the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collect galaxy data.

Some measurements do not perfectly fit standard cosmological models. Muhammad Ghulam Khuwajah Khan’s viscous space model provides a potential explanation for these differences.

How the Cosmic Fluid Works?

The model treats space like a thick fluid with internal ripples. As the universe expands, these ripples create resistance. This resistance is not constant; it peaks during certain cosmic periods. The drag slows expansion when space stretches rapidly.

It eases when expansion slows. In effect, the universe’s growth rate changes naturally over time. This could replace the need for a simple, constant dark energy model.

Why a study on this idea matters so much?

Understanding cosmic expansion is one of the biggest challenges in physics. Current models rely heavily on dark energy, which is poorly understood. If Khan’s idea is correct, it could provide a more dynamic explanation.

It could help resolve discrepancies in galaxy surveys and expansion measurements. It also opens doors to new ways of thinking about the cosmos.

Where this idea stands right now in science?

The viscous universe model is still a theoretical proposal. It has not yet been peer-reviewed or widely tested. Skeptics point out that viscosity usually requires particle interactions, and space is nearly empty.

The model must also fit other cosmological observations like supernova distances. Scientists remain cautious but interested in exploring this fresh perspective on cosmic expansion.

first published: Feb 17, 2026 06:35 pm

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