Glossary · Physics & astrophysics
Dark matter
An invisible component of the universe: it neither emits nor absorbs light, but its gravity reveals its presence (galaxy rotation, gravitational lensing). It accounts for about 85% of the matter in the universe. Its nature remains unknown, with candidates ranging from WIMPs to axions. Experiments like LZ hunt it deep underground, missions like Euclid map it from space.
Definition
An invisible component of the universe: it neither emits nor absorbs light, but its gravity reveals its presence (galaxy rotation, gravitational lensing). It accounts for about 85% of the matter in the universe. Its nature remains unknown, with candidates ranging from WIMPs to axions. Experiments like LZ hunt it deep underground, missions like Euclid map it from space.