What is Dark Matter?
Dark matter is an hypothetical, invisible form of matter inferred by its gravitational effects on visible objects, like stars and galaxies. It does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it undetectable by current instruments.
Dark matter is believed to makes up about 27% of the universe, while visible matter makes up only 5%. The remaining 68% is believed to be dark energy, which drives the universe's expansion.
Although we cannot directly observe dark matter, we detect its presence by studying galaxy motion, light bending, and cosmic structure behavior. Understanding dark matter is essential for comprehending the universe's composition and evolution.
Proposed Candidates for Dark Matter
| Candidate | Type | Mass Range | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) | Particle | High mass (compared to regular particles) | Interact via gravity and weak nuclear force |
| Axions | Particle | Very low mass | Hypothetical particles, could explain dark matter through quantum mechanics |
| STERILE NEUTRINOS | Particle | Relatively low mass | A type of neutrino that doesn't interact via the weak nuclear force |
| Primordial Black Holes | Object | Varies | Black holes formed in the early universe, could contribute to dark matter |