unexplained

Scientists have no idea what it is, yet dark matter and dark energy make up 96% of our universe. Dark matter is everywhere. It passes through everything we know on earth at billions of particles every second, but no one has ever gotten a direct detection of this mysterious substance. An even more bewildering force is dark energy, which is rapidly pushing our universe apart. Discovered only ten years ago, scientists are struggling to comprehend its unusual characteristics and answer the ultimate question: what is the fate of our Universe?

Evidence of dark matter has always seemed to dangle just beyond the grasp of astrophysicists. Theories predict it exists, the motion of galaxies implies it exists, but direct observation of this intrinsic material remains elusive. New data from NASA’s latest space telescope has sparked debate about whether or not dark matter has finally been observed. Controversy surrounds a discrepancy between observations made by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and a European positron/electron sensing satellite named PAMELA.

PAMELA (Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics) detected an unusual burst of positron and electron radiation that some have theorized came from the destruction of dark matter. A balloon-mounted sensor named ATIC corroborated PAMELA’s findings. But, neither experiment recorded an anti-proton burst theorized to accompany the electron/positron radiation. Measurements made by the Fermi telescope seem to contradict the ATIC/PAMELA data, and imply that the positron/electron burst emanated from a less exotic source than exploding dark matter.

This leaves the debate unsettled. Neither side has the upper hand. As Fermi telescope continues to make new observations, we can look forward to a number of new debates to emerge. For now, dark matter is still just a theory.