2007-01-14 10:09:54 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Good question! Unfortunately, there's no definite answer yet. Dark matter (..not to be confused with 'dark energy'..) can't be directly observed, but science knows of its existence because of the shape and motions of galaxies that regular matter can't account for. From this we know it must have gravitational properties. A number of theories exist that attempt to describe dark matter, such as WIMPs (..Weakly Interacting Massive Particles..) and MACHOs (..Massive Compact Halo Objects..)
As things stand right now, science has determined that our universe consists of only about 4% regular matter. The rest is in the form of dark matter (..23%) and dark energy (..73%)
See this website for more info about MACHOs ==>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=astronomy+macho
and this one for WIMPs ==>http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/blobrana/news/wimps.html
2007-01-14 10:33:56 · answer #1 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dark matter can not being seen but scientist know of it existence because of the rate of expansion of the universe will be greater if dark matter doesn't exist.
2007-01-14 19:18:28 · answer #2 · answered by chess_e4_pr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space.
2007-01-14 18:36:00 · answer #3 · answered by robert m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dark matter is matter in the universe that does not emit or reflect electromagnetic radiation of any wave length
2007-01-14 18:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by michaell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space. The final frontier.
2007-01-14 18:18:22 · answer #5 · answered by oldmanwitastick 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You would rather call it "Empty Space"
2007-01-14 20:53:54 · answer #6 · answered by AD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋