Dark Matter

Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is believed to make up about 27% of the universe's total mass and energy content. It does not emit, absorb, or reflect any electromagnetic radiation, such as light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects on visible matter. Dark matter plays a crucial role in cosmology and astrophysics, influencing the formation and structure of galaxies and galaxy clusters. Its presence is inferred from the motion of stars and galaxies, which cannot be explained solely by the gravitational pull of visible matter. Despite extensive research, the exact nature of dark matter remains one of the significant unsolved mysteries in modern science. Various candidates have been proposed for dark matter particles, including weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and axions, but no definitive evidence has yet been found.