Dark matter is a type of matter that cannot be seen or detected by traditional methods. It does not emit or absorb light, and its presence can only be inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter.
The current understanding is that dark matter makes up about 85% of the total matter in the universe. It plays a crucial role in the formation of galaxies and large-scale structures in the universe, but its exact composition and properties are still unknown.
Dark matter does not interact with electromagnetic radiation, such as light, which is the main way we detect and observe regular matter. It also does not form atoms or molecules, and its particles are thought to be much heavier than regular matter particles.
Scientists use a variety of methods to study and detect dark matter, including observing its gravitational effects on visible matter, measuring the rotation of galaxies, and searching for rare interactions between dark matter particles and regular matter particles.
Some current theories suggest that dark matter is made up of exotic particles, such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) or axions. Other hypotheses propose modifications to the laws of gravity, such as Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), to explain the observed gravitational effects of dark matter.