• Question: what is dark matter

    Asked by 242prtb47 to Yelong, Vicky, Oliver, Michele, Jackie on 8 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by Eleanor, Woah Science.
    • Photo: Michele Faucci Giannelli

      Michele Faucci Giannelli answered on 8 Mar 2015:

      Well, nobody knows.
      In general we give this name to matter that does not emit light. The main evidence for the existence of additional matter in the Universe is the orbiting velocity of stars around the centre of the galaxy. The velocities we observe can only be explained if more matter than the visible one (the stars) is actually present in the galaxy.
      There are several theories beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, the most accurate theory we have so far, that predict dark matter candidates in the form of Weakly Interactive Massive Particle (WIMP). The next run of the Large Hadron Collider may allow the discovery of such particle if they exists and have the right mass. The hunt is still on!

    • Photo: Jaclyn Bell

      Jaclyn Bell answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      We know dark matter is there but our telescopes cannot detect it since it doesn’t emit light, as Michele said – and so thats why it is called dark matter. There are some great short clips about dark matter, evidence for it being there and how they are trying to find it here:

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/universe/questions_and_ideas/dark_matter#p009g6d4

      🙂 Hope this helps!

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