Re-examining Astrophysical Constraints on the Dark Matter Model

The cosmological model based on Cold Dark Matter (CDM) and Dark Energy has been hugely successful in describing the observed evolution and large scale structure of our Universe. However, at small scales (in the smallest galaxies and at the centers of larger galaxies), a number of observations seem to conflict with the predictions of CDM galaxy formation theory, leading to a recent interest in alternative dark matter models. I will show that a proper consideration of the physics of ordinary matter (gas and stars) can significantly alter the dark matter structure and substructure of galaxies, alleviating the small scale problems. I will examine what future observations can help to put constraints on the nature of dark matter.