Dark matter is one of the most significant mysteries in modern science, representing a substance that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, yet exerts a powerful gravitational pull on the universe. While it remains invisible to traditional telescopes, its presence is inferred by its impact on the visible world. The Cosmic Invisible
As early as the 1930s, Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky noticed that galaxies in the Coma Cluster were moving far too fast to be held together by visible matter alone. He coined the term "dunkle Materie" (dark matter) to describe the missing mass. Gravitational Lensing
Most evidence suggests dark matter is "cold," meaning its particles move slowly relative to the speed of light. 🔭 Key Evidence
Dark matter makes up roughly , dwarfing the "ordinary" matter—stars, planets, and people—which accounts for less than 5%.
Massive objects warp the space around them, bending light like a lens. By observing how light from distant galaxies is distorted, astronomers can map the "invisible" mass causing the effect, which consistently points to vast reservoirs of dark matter. 🧪 What Could It Be?