What are some theories on what dark matter is?

The existence of dark matter can be traced back to the pioneering discoveries of Fritz Zwicky and Jan Oort that the motion of galaxies in the Coma cluster, and of nearby stars in our own Galaxy, do not follow the expected motion based on Newton’s law of gravity and the observed visible masses.

What is the best theory of dark matter?

Most dark matter is thought to be non-baryonic in nature; it may be composed of some as-yet-undiscovered subatomic particles. The primary candidate for dark matter is some new kind of elementary particle that has not yet been discovered, in particular, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).

Are there different kinds of dark matter?

Dark Matter candidates are either baryonic or non-baryonic, or a mixture of both. The non-baryonic forms are usually subdivided into two classes – Hot Dark Matter (HDM) and Cold Dark Matter (CDM). A major CDM candidate is WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles).

Which of the following is the most likely dark matter candidate?

Perhaps the most likely candidate is the Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP), though axions and more exotic candidates exist. Our research is designed to detect the former of these possibilities. Right now, the most probable candidate for a dark matter WIMP is a particle called the neutralino.

What do scientists think dark matter does?

Scientists study dark matter by looking at the effects it has on visible objects. Scientists believe that dark matter may account for the unexplained motions of stars within galaxies. They allow scientists to create models which predict galaxy behavior. Satellites are also being used to gather dark matter data.

What is dark matter and why do scientists think that it exists?

It doesn’t interact with baryonic matter and it’s completely invisible to light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, making dark matter impossible to detect with current instruments. But scientists are confident it exists because of the gravitational effects it appears to have on galaxies and galaxy clusters.

How many types of dark matter is in the universe?

Two varieties of dark matter have been found to exist. The first variety is about 4.5 percent of the universe and is made of the familiar baryons (i.e., protons, neutrons, and atomic nuclei), which also make up the luminous stars and galaxies.