We have often heard the terms "Dark Matter" or "Dark Energy" being used in science-fiction, but have we ever peered deeper into the subject and realised that this once fictitious concept may be real? Particle physicists at CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) are already at work.
From where did this theory of Dark Matter emerge? Let me tell you! Galaxies and star systems in our universe seem to be achieving an impossible feat. They are rotating at such unimaginable speeds that the gravity generated by their observable matter could not possibly hold them together; they should have been torn themselves apart long ago. The same is true of clusters, which begs the question: Is there another force at play? Some kind of invisible mass generating extra gravity is the only plausible answer. This strange and unknown matter has been named ‘Dark Matter’ since it is invisible to human technology.
Since Dark Matter has often only been restricted to fiction, let me elucidate on the reality of Dark Matter. Unlike normal matter, Dark Matter does not interact with the universal electromagnetic force, implying it does not absorb, reflect or emit light, making it extremely hard to locate. In fact, researchers have been able to infer the existence of dark matter only from the gravitational effect on visible matter. Dark matter also outweighs visible matter roughly six to one and possibly makes up about 85% of the observable universe.
Here is where CERN comes into play! The research at CERN Switzerland and Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory in Australia( a branch of the CERN research team) are playing instrumental roles in the identification of Dark Matter. It has been theorised that the Large Hadron Collider at CERN can perhaps also produce dark matter.
As of today, the hunt for Dark Matter still ensues. The human race still possesses very little knowledge about this mysterious counter-part of visible matter. Only time will tell whether dark matter really exists or if there is some other unknown phenomenon at work.
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