  With the recent data from the first year of the Dark Energy Survey (DES Y1),
we attempt to probe whether there is new physics beyond the standard cosmology
and to reconcile the $\sigma_8$ tension between the DES Y1 and Planck datasets
in three alternative cosmological models. Combining the galaxy clustering and
weak gravitational lensing data from the DES Y1 with other cosmological
observations including cosmic microwave background radiation, baryon acoustic
oscillations, Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and Planck lensing, we find that: (i)
For the interacting dark energy model, we have an updated constraint on the
modified matter expansion rate $\epsilon=-0.00004\pm 0.00031$, which indicates
that there is no hint of interaction between dark matter and dark energy in the
dark sector of the universe; (ii) For the viscous dark energy model, up to now,
the strictest constraint on the bulk viscosity coefficient $\eta<0.00152$ at
the $2\sigma$ confidence level is obtained; (iii) For the dynamical dark energy
model, our constraint on the typical parameter $\beta=-0.04\pm0.12$ implies
that there is still no evidence of dynamical dark energy. Meanwhile, we find
the $\sigma_8$ tension can be effectively alleviated in the above three
alternatives by constraining them with the DES Y1 and Planck datasets
separately.
