The nature of dark matter (DM) and dark energy (DE) which is supposed to constitute about 95% of the energy density of the universe is still a mystery. There is no shortage of ideas regarding the nature of both. While some candidates for DM are clearly ruled out, there is still a plethora of viable particles that fit the bill. In the context of DE, while current observations favour a cosmological constant picture, there are other competing models that are equally likely. This paper reviews the different possible candidates for DM including exotic candidates and their possible detection. This review also covers the different models for DE and the possibility of unified models for DM and DE. Keeping in mind the negative results in some of the ongoing DM detection experiments, here we also review the possible alternatives to both DM and DE (such as MOND and modifications of general relativity) and possible means of observationally distinguishing between the alternatives.Comment: 55 page

The origin of rotation or spin of objects, from stars to galaxies, is still an unanswered question. Even though there are models which try to explain this, none of them can account for the initial impulse that gave rise to this spin. In this paper we present that a cosmological model that contains a term involving the primordial spin of the universe can explain how these objects acquired the property of spin. This model also gives a natural explanation for the quadratic scaling of angular momentum with mass. Currently no cosmological model indicates as to why there are hundred billion galaxies with hundred billion stars in each. In this paper we invoke the property of non-irrotational hydrodynamic flow in order to explain how a primordial rotation of the universe broken up into vortex line structures, can indeed lead to formation of a large number of galactic structures and these in turn can lead to equally large number of stars within each galaxy. Again, from this model, the background torsion due to a universal spin density not only gives rise to angular momenta for all structures but also provides a background 'centrifugal term' acting as a repulsive gravity accelerating the universe, with spin density acting as effective cosmological constant.

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As is well known, black hole entropy is proportional to the area of the horizon suggesting a holographic principle wherein all degrees of freedom contributing to the entropy reside on the surface. In this note, we point out that large scale dark energy (such as a cosmological constant) constraining cosmic structures can imply a similar situation for the entropy of a hierarchy of such objects.

The standard model for the formation of structure assumes that there existed small fluctuations in the early universe that grew due to gravitational instability. The origins of these fluctuations are as yet unclear. In this work we propose the role of dark matter in providing the seed for star formation in the early universe. Very recent observations also support the role of dark matter in the formation of these first stars. With this we set observable constraints on luminosities, temperatures, and lifetimes of these early stars with an admixture of dark matter.