Everything we see in the universe—stars, planets, galaxies—makes up just 5% of its total matter. The rest is composed of dark energy and dark matter, an invisible substance that doesn’t emit or reflect light, but exerts gravitational force.
Scientists discovered dark matter by observing galaxies. Their outer edges move faster than visible matter can explain. The only answer: something unseen is adding mass—dark matter.
Despite not being directly observed, dark matter is believed to form the backbone of the universe’s structure. Without it, galaxies might not have formed or held together.
Experiments using underground detectors, particle colliders, and space telescopes aim to uncover what dark matter is—possibly weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) or axions.
Though still mysterious, dark matter is crucial to modern physics. It challenges our understanding of gravity, mass, and the fundamental forces that govern everything.
Solving this puzzle could lead to a deeper understanding of the universe’s origin and fate.
