Embedded Files
Dark Energy
Dark Energy
Scientists everywhere are completely baffled. They all thought the expansion of the universe would slow down, but evidence from a supernova proves the universe is expanding faster today than it did in the past. How is this happening?
Scientists everywhere are completely baffled. They all thought the expansion of the universe would slow down, but evidence from a supernova proves the universe is expanding faster today than it did in the past. How is this happening?
Scientists think they have an answer: dark energy. It’s a new kind of dynamical energy fluid or field, something that fills the entire universe but whose effect on the expansion of the universe is opposite that of normal matter and energy. They call this quintessence. It makes up about 68% of the universe, but its affect does not seem to be diluted with the expansion of the universe.
Scientists think they have an answer: dark energy. It’s a new kind of dynamical energy fluid or field, something that fills the entire universe but whose effect on the expansion of the universe is opposite that of normal matter and energy. They call this quintessence. It makes up about 68% of the universe, but its affect does not seem to be diluted with the expansion of the universe.
Scientists are not really sure where it comes from, but they do have a couple of theories. In one version of Einstein’s theory of relativity, there is a cosmological constant, giving space some measure of energy. As more space comes into existence, more of this energy-of-space would appear, causing the universe to accelerate its expansion. Another theory comes from the quantum theory of matter, which says empty space is full of temporary particles that would form and disappear constantly. However, when scientists tried to calculate the number of particles, the number came out 10120 times too big.
Scientists are not really sure where it comes from, but they do have a couple of theories. In one version of Einstein’s theory of relativity, there is a cosmological constant, giving space some measure of energy. As more space comes into existence, more of this energy-of-space would appear, causing the universe to accelerate its expansion. Another theory comes from the quantum theory of matter, which says empty space is full of temporary particles that would form and disappear constantly. However, when scientists tried to calculate the number of particles, the number came out 10120 times too big.
Dark Matter
Dark Matter
Scientists were amazed at the speed which galaxies were spinning at and they weren’t being torn apart. They knew something else had to be at work. They gave that something else a name: dark matter.
Scientists were amazed at the speed which galaxies were spinning at and they weren’t being torn apart. They knew something else had to be at work. They gave that something else a name: dark matter.
It is calculated dark matter makes up 27% of the universe (between dark energy and dark matter it only leaves 5% for the normal energy and matter) and was first introduced by Fritz Zwinky in 1933. It was swiftly dismissed by his colleagues at the time, and was re-introduced in the 1970’s. Scientists are not sure if it is made up of baryonic or non-baryonic matter, but most think it is made up of non-baryonic, such as WIMPS, neutrilinos, natural axion, and uncharged photinos. Dim brown dwarfs, white dwarfs, neutrino stars, and supermassive black holes are all thought to be made of dark matter.
It is calculated dark matter makes up 27% of the universe (between dark energy and dark matter it only leaves 5% for the normal energy and matter) and was first introduced by Fritz Zwinky in 1933. It was swiftly dismissed by his colleagues at the time, and was re-introduced in the 1970’s. Scientists are not sure if it is made up of baryonic or non-baryonic matter, but most think it is made up of non-baryonic, such as WIMPS, neutrilinos, natural axion, and uncharged photinos. Dim brown dwarfs, white dwarfs, neutrino stars, and supermassive black holes are all thought to be made of dark matter.
Student Generated Advertisement
Sources:
C. (2017). CERN Accelerating science. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://home.cern/about/physics/dark-matter
Dark Energy, Dark Matter. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-is-dark-energy
HubbleSite - Dark Energy - What Is Dark Energy? (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/dark_energy/de-what_is_dark_energy.php
Redd, N. T. (2017). What is Dark Matter? Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://www.space.com/20930-dark-matter.html
Image Credits:
Report abuse