Question: What exactly is dark matter?

Keywords: ,

  1. Dark Matter is a type of matter that does not shed light but interacts gravitationally. We know Dark Matter exists as we can measure the weight of galaxies from its light, and we calculate how much mass is needed to make the galaxy rotate at a certain speed, and the two do not much up. There is missing mass. We have confirmed Dark Matter exists through other means now too. It was believed that it was very massive, compact objects (MACHO’s) such as dark stars or other such things. However, searches have revealed that is not the case. The current theory is it is a weakly-interacting massive particle (WIMP). A particle that doesn’t interact except through gravity, and due to its mass, has a strong gravitational effect. Experiments are underway to try and find this particle.

    0

Comments