Exploring the Mystery of Dark Matter

In summary, dark matter is a mysterious substance that makes up a large portion of the universe and is thought to be a new particle that only interacts through gravity. Other explanations include modified gravity models or undiscovered particles. However, the first possibility is currently the most widely accepted.
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SD das
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What is exactly the dark matter? There are lot's of things hitting at a particle nature of dark matter I mean observation of the bullet cluster, freeze out times in the earlier universe, the third peak in the CMB power spectrum.

I think there is no known consistent explanation by modified gravity models. On the other hand there are any different dark matter models that are able to explain all observations. Hmmm well of course this does not prove anything, but to our current knowledge particle dark matter is definitely the best guess.[emoji53]
 
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  • #2
SD das said:
What is exactly the dark matter?

We don't know. It could be a new particle that only interacts through gravity, it could be that gravity behaves differently than our current laws, or it could be something else. The first possibility is currently thought to be the most probable one.
 
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  • #3
Drakkith said:
We don't know. It could be a new particle that only interacts through gravity, it could be that gravity behaves differently than our current laws, or it could be something else. The first possibility is currently thought to be the most probable one.
Or it maybe that there is some as yet undiscovered particles that makes up of the dark matter, it may be that the dark matter is actually our misunderstanding of the laws of gravity, or or it maybe something else entirely that we haven't even thought of yet[emoji44]
 
  • #4
SD das said:
Or it maybe that there is some as yet undiscovered particles that makes up of the dark matter, it may be that the dark matter is actually our misunderstanding of the laws of gravity, or or it maybe something else entirely that we haven't even thought of yet[emoji44]

Yes, that is exactly what I said. :biggrin:
 
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1. What is dark matter?

Dark matter is a type of matter that makes up about 85% of the total matter in the universe. It does not emit or reflect light, making it invisible to telescopes. Its presence is inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter.

2. How is dark matter different from regular matter?

Dark matter is different from regular matter in that it does not interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes. It also does not interact with other matter through electromagnetic forces, but only through gravity.

3. How do scientists study dark matter?

Scientists study dark matter through various methods such as observing its gravitational effects on visible matter, measuring the rotation curves of galaxies, and looking for evidence of dark matter collisions in particle accelerators.

4. What are some theories about the nature of dark matter?

There are several theories about the nature of dark matter, including the WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) theory, the MACHO (Massive Compact Halo Objects) theory, and the axion theory. However, the exact nature of dark matter remains a mystery.

5. Why is studying dark matter important?

Studying dark matter is important because it can help us understand the structure and evolution of the universe. It also has implications for our understanding of gravity and could potentially lead to new discoveries in physics. Additionally, understanding dark matter could have practical applications, such as in the development of new technologies.

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