What is the force that attracts all matter within the universe, notably including Earth and another nearby body?

The force that attracts all matter within the universe, including Earth and other nearby bodies, is gravity. Gravity is a fundamental force that acts between any two masses, and its strength depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. This force is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around stars, moons around planets, and ultimately dictates the structure of galaxies and larger cosmic formations.

Gravity operates universally and is the reason why objects fall towards the Earth and why celestial bodies maintain their trajectories through space. This force is also the reason why we experience weight; it pulls us towards the center of the Earth, giving us a sense of heaviness.

In contrast, magnetism pertains to the forces that occur between magnets and magnetized materials, which is not universal in the same way as gravity. Friction is a force that resists motion between two surfaces in contact, and it does not attract matter. Electromagnetism is a force that encompasses electric and magnetic forces but is not the primary force responsible for the attraction of all matter in space. The distinct nature of gravity, as a universal attractive force, makes it the correct answer in this context.