Allegory of the Cave
In an alternate universe, Mary Malone researches dark matter, referring to it as "Shadows". The name "Shadows" was given to the particle by her colleague, Oliver Payne, in references to Plato's Allegory of the Cave, involving "shadows on the wall". When she communicates with Shadows by interfacing with her detector, it confirms that they are the same as Dust and dark matter. The Mulefa, who are able to see Dust directly, use the word "sraf" accompanied by a leftward flick of the trunk (or arm for humans) to describe it.