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20,944 Abibisika (Black Gold) Points
What is DARK MATTER importance in the universe?
1. The nature of the universe is TRUTH revealing.
2. They don’t see IT, but IT still matter!
3. They don’t see us, but we still matter!
Unlike today’s current understanding of dark matter we are filled with light.
Dark matter is crucial for understanding the structure and evolution of the universe because it makes up the vast majority of matter and exerts a gravitational influence that shapes galaxies and larger structures. It’s invisible and doesn’t interact with light, but its presence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Galaxy Formation and Evolution:
Dark matter acts as a scaffolding, attracting normal matter (stars, gas, and dust) and allowing galaxies to form and grow. Without dark matter, galaxies would likely be too dispersed to form, or they would spin apart due to their own internal motions.
Holding Galaxies Together:
Galaxies rotate faster than can be explained by the visible matter alone, suggesting the presence of unseen mass, which is dark matter. It provides the extra gravitational pull needed to keep galaxies from flying apart.
Large-Scale Structure:
Dark matter plays a key role in the formation of the “cosmic web,” the large-scale structure of the universe where galaxies are interconnected by filaments of matter.
Gravitational Lensing:
The gravity of dark matter bends the path of light from distant objects, a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This distortion allows scientists to map the distribution of dark matter, even though it’s invisible.
Composition of the Universe:
Dark matter makes up about 85% of the total matter in the universe, dwarfing the amount of visible matter. Understanding dark matter is therefore essential to understanding the overall composition and fate of the cosmos.
Unknown Nature:
While its gravitational effects are clear, the exact nature of dark matter remains a mystery. Scientists are actively researching its properties and interactions with other forms of matter.