{
  "abstract": "After four decades of null-results, the experimental quest to discover a dark matter particle ardently continues. While confidence in the leading candidate, the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP), is waning, its explanatory success still shapes current experimental approaches and theoretical expectations - from underground detecting efforts in Europe, China, and the U.S. to modern theories of cosmic structure. This paper traces the origins of this particle-based paradigm to a critical predecessor: the neutrino-dominated universe. Proposed in the early 1970s as a solution to extra-galactic anomalies, neutrinos became the leading explanation of 'missing matter' following experimental hints of neutrino mass in 1980. Although short-lived, the model's coherent picture of cosmic evolution and structure formation set strong conceptual and methodological standards - providing critical impetus to the field of particle cosmology. Examining this history invites renewed reflection on how such past aims and expectations continue to guide dark matter inquiry today.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.25239",
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Jaco de Swart"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3zethrxadgzyp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.25239",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "3zethrxadgzyp",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.25239",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.CO"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "hep-ph"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.hist-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214107852",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.25239",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3zethrxadgzyp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:23:39Z",
      "native_id": "2609.25239",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.25239"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.CO",
      "subfield": "cosmology"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:hep-ph",
      "subfield": "high-energy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Before WIMPs: Neutrinos and the origins of particle dark matter",
  "title_text": "Before WIMPs: Neutrinos and the origins of particle dark matter",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:23:39Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3zethrxadgzyp",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}