Will dark matter cause the Universe to collapse?
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Will dark matter cause the Universe to collapse?
If the Universe holds enough matter, including dark matter, the combined gravitational attraction of everything will gradually halt this expansion and precipitate the ultimate collapse.
Is dark matter decreasing?
The total mass of dark matter is fixed, so as the Universe expands and the volume increases, the density of dark matter drops, just like it does for normal matter. As space expands, the dark energy density remains constant, rather than decreasing or increasing.
Is dark matter getting stronger?
The universe’s dark energy may be growing stronger with time, study suggests. Dark energy, a mysterious invisible force believed to play a role in how the universe expands, may be growing stronger over time, according to a new study. “This could mean dark energy is getting stronger as the cosmos grows older.”
Is dark matter really a weakly interacting massive particle?
For decades, the most popular candidate for dark matter has been the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP). The hypothetical particle was first dreamed up in the 1970s as an expansion of the traditional Standard Model of particle physics.
What are some alternatives theories of dark matter?
But it looks like scientists have to return to the drawing board and consider alternative theories of dark matter as well. Another less exotic explanation for dark matter is the existence of massive astrophysical compact halo objects (MACHOs).
Is the gravitino dark matter?
A separate theory predicts the existence of the graviton—a massless particle that mediates the force of gravity, similar to the photon mediating electromagnetism. Tying these two theories together is the gravitino—the hypothetical supersymmetric partner to the graviton that some physicists believe could constitute dark matter.
Why does dark matter form clumps around galaxies?
Even though dark matter interacts much more weakly than ordinary matter, dark matter is not spread out evenly through space and should form clumps in and around galaxies.