Chronos said:Good answer, Nabeshin, whatever that meant. Fran asked for a number, George gave the best current estimate. Do you have a rebuttal or are you just sniping?
Baryons are subatomic particles that are made up of three quarks. These particles include protons and neutrons, which make up the nucleus of an atom.
The estimated number of baryons in the observable universe is around 10^80, or 1 with 80 zeros after it. This number is constantly changing as the universe expands and new matter is created.
Scientists use a variety of methods to estimate the number of baryons in the universe, including observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation, measurements of the mass and energy density of the universe, and simulations of the formation and evolution of the universe.
No, baryons make up only a small fraction of the total matter in the universe. The rest is comprised of dark matter, which is a type of matter that does not interact with light and is still not fully understood by scientists.
Understanding the number of baryons in the universe is important for several reasons. It can help us better understand the formation and evolution of the universe, the distribution of matter and energy, and the overall structure of the universe. It also provides insights into the fundamental laws of physics and can help us answer some of the most fundamental questions about our existence.