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• Dark matter is a hard-to-detect substance that is believed to make up a large part of the known universe. It is called "dark" because it does not emit or reflect any kind of radiation and does not interact with normal matter. Therefore, it cannot be observed directly. The leading scientific theory is that dark matter may consist of weakly interacting massive particles or WIMPS. However, no WIMPS have been directly observed to date.Cosmic Variance: Dark Matter Exists

• Fast Facts

  1. Dark matter is thought to be around 23% of everything in the known universeTG Daily: New dark energy findings suggest Einstein's theory is dead-on (December 16, 2008)
  2. Dark energy probably makes up 74% of the universeTG Daily: New dark energy findings suggest Einstein's theory is dead-on (December 16, 2008)
  3. Dark Matter is often featured in Science Fiction
  4. The term Dark Matter was coined by Fritz ZwickySwemorph: Fritz Zwicky
  5. Dark matter may be made of weakly interacting massive particles but scientists are unsureScience Daily: New Detector Will Aid Dark Matter Search (December 8, 2008)

• Discovery of Dark Matter

  Dark Matter was first observed in 1933 by CalTech astronomer Fritz Zwicky.Swemorph: Fritz Zwicky Subsequent observations and measurements have provided good indirect evidence for the existence of dark matter, and the scientific evidence continues to grow. However, there is not yet a scientific consensus on the substance.Science Daily: New Detector Will Aid Dark Matter Search (December 8, 2008)

• Dark Matter and Dark Energy

  Another type of unknown substance in the universe is called dark energy. It is believed to make up 74% of the known universe. Like dark matter, it cannot directly be detected. However, scientists believe that dark energy exists because of the way the universe works. For example, without dark energy, the universe would have stopped expanding and begun contracting, but instead, the universe continues to expand outward at an accelerated rate. Furthermore, the growth of galaxies and clusters is slower than predicted, which scientists attribute to dark energy.TG Daily: New dark energy findings suggest Einstein's theory is dead-on (December 16, 2008)

  On December 16, 2008, scientists released research that strongly suggests dark energy actually exists. Using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, they made detailed observations and calculations to support the dark energy theory. Although other theories still exist, some scientists believe that these observations add more evidence to prove Einstein's Theory of Relativity.TG Daily: New dark energy findings suggest Einstein's theory is dead-on (December 16, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  E8 | Physics | Quantum Physics | Albert Einstein | Space | NASA | Chandra X-ray Observatory | Black Holes | Hubble Space Telescope | Spitzer Space Telescope

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