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The Mystery of Dark Matter: This creative explained the existence of the universe in detail.
Introduction
Another of the strangest enigmas of the present day astronomy is the dark matter. This shadowy material, which scientists estimate makes up around 85% of everything that exists in the universe, has been mystifying researchers for decades. Though little is known about it, dark matter is an essential component that influences galaxies and the formation of the universe. For this blog post, I plan to cover what is dark matter, its characteristics, how scientists are trying to find evidence of its existence and the techniques used to do so.
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What is Dark Matter?
Dark matter is an unseen type of matter postulated in cosmology which does not emit, absorb, reflect or otherwise interact with electromagnetic radiation. According to present theories, dark matter is unlike atoms and other subforms of matter and is made up of particles that can only be influenced by gravity and the weak nuclear force. It’s impossible to determine what its nature is, however, scientists have collected ample proof of its existence through tracking galaxies and clusters of galaxies.
Observational Support to Dark Matter
Galaxy Rotation Curves: Galaxies rotate much faster than they seem to if they only contained visible matters. Such a situation is easily explainable due to the presence of much mass which extends beyond the area where the stars are visible, to provide needed gravitation to keep the stars in their course.
Galaxy Clusters: Another observation we have is the lensing effect, where light traveling through space is bent due to the gravity of massive objects; in clusters of galaxies, that explains why galaxies appear to be distorted since the gravity of the cluster curves the light around the vacuum zone. This unseen mass, called dark matter, seems to be behind the lensing effect observed in the universe.
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): Dark matter: proof of its existence come from CMB, which is the massive cosmic background radiation leftover from the Big Bang event. The variations observed in CMB are in congruent with the map of matter in the universe and its contents, such as dark matter.
The Search for Dark Matter Particles
Scientists have been searching for the elusive dark matter particles for decades. Several experiments have been conducted to directly detect these particles, but so far, they have remained elusive. Some of the most promising candidates for dark matter particles include:
- Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs): WIMPs are hypothetical particles that interact weakly with ordinary matter and have a relatively large mass.
- Axions: Axions are hypothetical particles that are extremely light and weakly interacting.
- Sterile Neutrinos: Sterile neutrinos are a type of neutrino that does not interact with the weak force.
The Implications of Dark Matter
The discovery of dark matter would have profound implications for our understanding of the universe. It could help us to explain the formation and evolution of galaxies, as well as the nature of gravity and the fundamental forces of nature. Additionally, the existence of dark matter could point to the existence of new, undiscovered particles and forces beyond the Standard Model of particle physics.
Conclusion
The mystery of dark matter continues to fascinate scientists and the public alike. While its exact nature remains elusive, the mounting evidence for its existence suggests that it plays a crucial role in shaping the universe as we know it. As scientists continue to explore the properties and origins of dark matter, we can hope for groundbreaking discoveries that will shed light on this one of the greatest mysteries of modern science.
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