Unraveling the Mystery of Dark Matter

In summary, dark matter is a type of matter that is not visible and its existence is supported by gravitational effects on a large scale. Its composition is still unknown, but it is believed to be mostly non-baryonic. There are several theories, such as neutralinos and Kaluza-Klein matter, but no concrete evidence for any of them. It is estimated to make up around 23% of the mass-energy in the universe. Whether or not string theory can explain it is uncertain. Some other proposed explanations include axions and Kaluza-Klein matter.
  • #1
aniket
6
0
Hey guys,
what is dark matter?what is it made up of and where is it?can any theory explain this?
can string theory explain this? so please frendz help me out of this.
 
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  • #2
The evidence for the existence of dark matter lies in various graviational effects on a large scale (galaxies and clusters of galaxies). What it is made of is still unknown. All that can be said is that most of it is NOT baryonic (ordinary) matter. There are several theories, but no evidence yet for any of them.
 
  • #3
What it is made of is still unknown.
I agree of course (your answer is the good one).
However, what i would just like to add is that i think that quite a lot of scientisit think that neutralinos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutralino) may be the mayor constituent of cold dark matter.

All that can be said is that most of it is NOT baryonic (ordinary) matter.
Baryonic dark matter is object like dwarf stars and other tiny "dark"(=shineless -but i don't know if that word exist) objects.
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101matter.html
http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/dark_matter_galaxy.html?2322005

Just to add : dark matter seems to make up around 23% of our universe mass-energy

can string theory explain this?
No idea ! Sorry :(

Benjamin
 
  • #4
Axions are still popular.
 
  • #5
Kaluza-Klein matter is also a suggestion.
 

What is dark matter?

Dark matter is a type of matter that makes up about 27% of the universe, but cannot be seen or detected by telescopes. It is believed to have mass and gravitational pull, but does not emit or absorb light like regular matter.

How do scientists study dark matter?

Scientists use various methods to study dark matter, such as observing the effects of its gravitational pull on visible matter, analyzing the rotation of galaxies, and studying the cosmic microwave background radiation. They also conduct experiments using particle accelerators to try and create dark matter particles.

Why is dark matter important?

Dark matter is important because it helps explain the structure and evolution of the universe. Without the presence of dark matter, galaxies would not have enough mass to hold together and the universe would look very different. It also plays a role in the formation of large-scale structures like galaxy clusters.

What are the current theories about dark matter?

There are several theories about dark matter, including the "cold dark matter" theory which suggests that dark matter is made up of slow-moving particles, and the "warm dark matter" theory which proposes that dark matter is composed of faster-moving particles. Other theories suggest that dark matter is not made up of particles at all, but rather a modification of the laws of gravity.

What is being done to unravel the mystery of dark matter?

Scientists are constantly conducting experiments and using advanced technology to try and detect and study dark matter. They are also developing new theories and models to better understand the properties of dark matter and its role in the universe. Collaborative efforts between scientists from different fields, such as astrophysics and particle physics, are also being made to further our understanding of dark matter.

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