Why this matter really matters
What is Dark Matter?
The universe is a large, expansive place filled with a few things that we know about, and everything else that we can’t even possibly begin to explain. The best part about studying science is learning about theories and ideas that tell us what something is, without being able to accurately describe how something is relevant.
Dark matter is one such phenomenon. We have a rough understanding of what dark matter is because we’ve observed its effects on regular matter. However, we don’t have a complete understanding of how it works, nor why it’s even a part of our universe. All of this wouldn’t be incredibly bothersome, except that dark matter constitutes an enormous 84.5 per cent of our known universe. In comparison, ordinary matter – the stuff that comprises stars, planets, trees, humans, and plants – only comprises 4.9 per cent of our universe.
In the simplest possible sense, dark matter is a theoretical construct that exists beyond the standard model of physics. It is a kind of matter that neither absorbs nor emits light, and for all intents and purposes, is invisible to us.
How does Dark Matter Work?
Despite its ghostly origins, dark matter was first hypothesized in 1932 and 1933. In 1932, we used dark matter to explain the orbital velocities of stars, and in 1933, we used dark matter to account for “missing mass” in the orbital velocities of galaxies in clusters. In short, we used dark matter as shorthand for the entire array of strange cosmic phenomenon that could not be accounted for
using the standard model of physics.
Dark matter, however theoretical, is absolutely a real thing. Its effects on gravity and radiation are entirely observable, and the manner in which it accounts for discrepancies in mass is a result of its influence on large gravitational objects.
As always, particle physicists theorize that dark matter’s existence is defined by a subatomic particle that we just haven’t found yet.
Why is Dark Matter Important?
According to the second law of thermodynamics, all systems move from a state of high to low energy; this is a result of entropy, and it’s a scientific concept that is applicable to a multitude of phenomena. In the simplest terms possible, the second law states that everything moves from a state of order to chaos.
Based on the Second Law, we’ve always assumed that the universe’s expansion has been slowing down over time. After all, the second law of thermodynamics reminds us that everything that starts moving eventually slows down to a halt. However, in recent years, we discovered that the universe’s expansion is actually accelerating – a concept that makes absolutely no sense given our understanding of astrophysics.
Dark matter – and dark energy – is important because it helps account for universal expansion, and it helps account for the “missing mass” of physical objects involved in cosmic phenomena.
What is the Future of Dark Matter?
The future of dark matter is an expanded understanding of our universe. As mentioned earlier, dark matter is probably the result of a hitherto undiscovered subatomic particle; the search for this particle continues on.
As always, I’m excited for the truly absurd possibilities. Science has a tendency to produce eccentric ideas when events are difficult to explain. Using string theory as a basis, some scientists believe that the dark matter phenomenon is indicative of a separate universe composed entirely of dark matter.
Allow me a moment to express my incredulity: physicists genuinely believe that dark matter indicates the existence of a multiverse of almost identical – but significantly different – universes, each with their own strange laws of nature.
And people say science isn’t cool.