Discovering the universe's building blocks:
matter, dark matter, and dark energy
Dark matter is a mysterious form of matter that makes up about 85% of the total mass in the universe, yet it doesn’t emit, absorb, or reflect any electromagnetic radiation, like light, making it invisible. Its existence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter, such as stars and galaxies.
NASA, 2024:
Gravitational Influence
Dark matter helps explain why galaxies rotate faster than expected, based on the visible matter they contain. Without dark matter, galaxies would fly apart due to their rotational speeds.
Composition
Unlike normal matter, which is made up of particles like protons, neutrons, and electrons, dark matter does not interact with the electromagnetic force, meaning it doesn’t produce or respond to light. Its exact composition remains unknown, but it could be made of exotic particles like Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) or axions.
Role in the Universe
Dark matter is thought to play a key role in the formation and structure of galaxies. It acts as a gravitational "scaffold" that helped galaxies and clusters of galaxies to form and evolve in the early universe. Despite being a significant component of the universe, dark matter remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in cosmology and particle physics.
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Consider the probability of waking up on Mars tomorrow. What is the probability you came up with, and why? Quantum theory, particularly Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, suggests that there's a minute possibility that particles, including ourselves, could exist in distant locations, like Mars. This arises from the concept that our quantum wave could theoretically tunnel through space-time and end up there. However, when you run the numbers, the odds are so astronomically low that it would take longer than the entire lifespan of the universe for it to occur. So, while it’s not impossible, the overwhelmingly likely outcome is that you'll wake up in your bed, not on Mars.
Black Holes |
Dark Matter |