Dark matter makes up about 27% of the universe
Image: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cold dark matter
Dark matter makes up about 27% of the universe
Cold dark matter (CDM) is characterized by its slow movement compared to the speed of light and its weak interaction with ordinary matter and electromagnetic radiation. This unique behavior helps explain the formation and distribution of cosmic structures, such as galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Example
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments aim to detect WIMPs, a candidate for cold dark matter, through their weak interactions with ordinary matter.
Remember this
Understanding dark matter candidates like WIMPs is crucial for advancing our knowledge of the universe's composition and the fundamental forces at play.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related concepts
Dark energy
Why does the universe keep getting bigger faster?
Gunn–Peterson trough
Why can't we see the universe's infancy clearly?
Neutrino astronomy
Neutrinos rarely interact with matter
Supersymmetry
Every fermion has a bosonic partner and vice versa
Standard Model
Standard Model's particle content: 6 quarks, 6 leptons, 4 gauge bosons, 1 Higgs
the CMB power spectrum tells us
Ever wondered why the night sky glows uniformly?
Swipe through 100 ML concepts daily
Open Pocket Polymath