Dark Matter’s Elusive Nature Puts Cosmology at a Crossroads
For decades, dark matter has been a cornerstone of modern cosmology. Scientists use it to explain why the universe behaves as if it contains far more mass than we can see. Yet despite its central role, this invisible substance remains undetected—and some researchers now question whether it exists at all.
Observations show that visible matter makes up only about 15% of the gravitational effects seen in the cosmos. The remaining 85% is attributed to dark matter, a hypothetical substance that interacts through gravity but emits no light. Candidates like weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), axions, and sterile neutrinos have been proposed, each with unique properties and experimental hurdles.
The search for answers remains uncertain. The next decade could bring breakthroughs: the discovery of dark matter particles, proof of modified gravity, or even a completely new framework. Whatever emerges, the outcome will reshape our understanding of the universe’s hidden structure.
