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Observational Evidence for Dark Matter's Existence and Abundance

Observations of galactic rotation curves, gravitational lensing in galaxy clusters, and analysis of cosmic microwave background radiation consistently indicate dark matter constitutes approximately 85% of the universe's matter, strongly suggesting its existence despite its inability to interact with light.

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OtherScienceCosmologyAstrophysicsGravitational LensingDark MatterVera RubinGalaxy RotationCosmic Microwave Background

Institute Of Theoretical Physics In Madrid (Uam-Csic)Dr. Antoni Esteve FoundationL'oréal-Unesco 'For Women In Science' Program

Vera Cooper RubinMarina Cermeño GavilánMariana Pérez Pásaro

What observational evidence definitively proves dark matter's existence, and what is its estimated proportion of the universe's matter?: Vera Rubin's 1977 observations of galactic rotation curves showed that stars' speeds remained constant far from galactic centers, contradicting Newtonian gravity's predictions unless unseen matter, estimated to be nine times the visible matter's mass, existed. This, along with gravitational lensing in galaxy clusters revealing only 20% luminous matter, and cosmic microwave background radiation analysis indicating over 80% dark matter, strongly supports its existence.
What are the most promising avenues of future research to directly detect dark matter particles and enhance our understanding of its nature and influence on cosmology?: Future research could focus on direct detection experiments to identify dark matter particles, improving our understanding of its composition and properties. Understanding dark matter is crucial to complete our cosmological model and unravel the universe's structure formation processes, potentially revolutionizing our knowledge of fundamental physics.
How do measurements of galactic rotation curves, gravitational lensing in galaxy clusters, and cosmic microwave background radiation independently support the existence and abundance of dark matter?: These findings, across galactic, cluster, and cosmological scales, consistently point to dark matter comprising approximately 85% of the universe's matter. The discrepancy between observed gravitational effects and visible matter's mass, regardless of measurement scale or method, provides compelling evidence for a non-luminous, gravitational component.

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