What is the history of dark matter?

What is the history of dark matter?

Dark matter was first proposed in the 1930s when astronomer Fritz Zwicky observed that galaxies in clusters were moving too fast to be held together by visible matter alone.

What evidence do we have for dark matter?

Evidence for dark matter includes gravitational effects on visible matter, cosmic microwave background radiation, and galaxy rotation curves.

How has our understanding of dark matter changed over time?

Initially thought to be a simple explanation for missing mass, dark matter is now understood to be a complex component of the universe, influencing structure formation.

What are the current theories about dark matter?

Current theories include WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), axions, and modifications to gravity, but no direct detection has been confirmed yet.

What role does dark matter play in the universe?

Dark matter makes up about 27% of the universe's mass-energy content, playing a crucial role in the formation and structure of galaxies.