When an invisible entity making up 85% of the universe’s mass stumps the greatest scientific minds of our time, awe is an understandable response.
Physicists call it “ dark matter, ” a substance they describe as the cosmic glue, the scaffolding, a web that uses gravity to corral, shape and hold together stars, planets and galaxies. Yet nobody knows exactly what it is.
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D4:6?46\aa34a`7“`f`c4d43`3ecd7hdc6_`bb5Qms2C< >2EE6CVD 6I:DE6?46k^2m 😀 @?=J :?76CC65 7C@> :ED 8C2G:E2E:@?2= 67764ED @? G:D:3=6 >2EE6C] %@86E96C H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^52C<\6?6C8J\56D:\F?:G6CD6\4@D>@=@8J\3:8\4CF?49\aedeb3bgbhgeeha6`acc27“556ff5caQm52C< 6?6C8Jk^2m — 2 >JDE6C:@FD 7@C46 42FD:?8 E96 F?:G6CD6 E@ 6IA2?5 2E 2? 2446=6C2E65 C2E6 — E96J 2C6 E96 3:886DE D4:6?E:7:4 >JDE6C:6D @7 @FC E:>6]k^Am
kAm$@ :E’D ?@ DFCAC:D6 E92E 52C< >2EE6C 2?5 52C< 6?6C8J[ H9:49 >2J 9@=5 2?DH6CD E@ E96 @C:8:?D 2?5 72E6 @7 E96 F?:G6CD6[ 92G6 DA2C<65 AC@7@F?5 C6=:8:@FD 2?5 A9:=@D@A9:42= 4@?G6CD2E:@?D — :?DA:C2E:@?2= E@ D@>6 D4:6?E:DED[ 4C:?86H@CE9J E@ @E96CD]k^Am
kAm%96 H@C=5D @7 D4:6?46 2?5 72:E9 2C6 ?@E 2D D6A2C2E6 2D E96J >:89E D66>] |2?J D4:6?E:DED 92G6 6IAC6DD65 9@H DEF5J:?8 E96 >2;6DEJ @7 E96 4@D>@D 42? 36 4@>A=6>6?E2CJ C2E96C E92? 4@?7=:4E:?8 H:E9 E96:C 72:E9 @C DA:C:EF2= AC24E:46]k^Am
k9ampDEC@A9JD:4:DE :?DA:C65 3J E96 %@C29k^9am
kAm’6C2 #F3:?[ 2? 2DEC@?@>6C H9@D6 @3D6CG2E:@?D @7 82=2IJ C@E2E:@? 4FCG6D 😕 E96 `hf_D AC@G:565 E96 7:CDE C@3FDE 6G:56?46 7@C 52C< >2EE6CVD 6I:DE6?46[ 6>3C2465 96C y6H:D9 72:E9 2D 2 8F:56 E@ F?56CDE2?5:?8 96C C@=6 😕 E96 F?:G6CD6]k^Am
kAm(96? r92?52 !C6D4@5\(6:?DE6:? >6E #F3:? 2D 2 5@4E@C2= DEF56?E 😕 a__h[ E96 C6?@H?65 2DEC@A9JD:4:DE A@D65 2? F?6IA64E65 BF6DE:@?i “$@ 9@H 5@ J@F E9:?< H6 D@=G6 E96 52C< >2EE6C AC@3=6>n”k^Am
kAm!C6D4@5\(6:?DE6:?[ H9@ 😀 2? 28?@DE:4\2E96:DE 2?5 y6H:D9[ 4:E6D #F3:?’D 8C24:@FD BF6CJ 2D 2 724E@C 😕 564:5:?8 E@ DEF5J 2 E96@C6E:42= A2CE:4=6 42==65 E96 2I:@?[ H9:49 4@F=5 A@E6?E:2==J D@=G6 E96 52C< >2EE6C AC@3=6>] !C6D4@5\(6:?DE6:? D2JD D96 5C2HD @? #64@?DECF4E:@?:DE y6H:D9 E6249:?8 2?5 E96 %@C29 7@C D4:6?E:7:4 :?DA:C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96 DE@C:6D 😕 E96 %@C29 2C6 23@FE A6@A=6 H9@ =:G65 😕 2 G6CJ :?E:>2E6 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 E96 =2?5 2?5 H:E9 E96 ?:89E Dk9am$4:6?E:DE D66
kAmxE H2D 2? @3D6DD:@? H:E9 52C< >2EE6C 2?5 52C< 6?6C8J E92E 8@E qC:EE2?J z2>2: :?E@ 2DEC@A9JD:4D] $96 😀 @?=J E96 D64@?5 }2E:G6 w2H2::2? E@ 62C? 2 5@4E@C2E6 😕 E96 7:6=5] p7E6C DA6?5:?8 J62CD 56G6=@A:?8 E96 u6C>:=23 w@=@>6E6C[ 2? :?DECF>6?E 56D:8?65 E@ F?56CDE2?5 H92E DA246 2?5 E:>6 2C6 >256 @7[ z2>2: C6EFC?65 E@ 96C DA:C:EF2= C@@ED 😕 w2H2:: 2D 2? 2AAC6?E:46 ?2G:82E@C 2?5 4C6H >6>36C @7 2 G@J28:?8 42?@6]k^Am
kAmz2>2: EC2:?D 😕 46=6DE:2= ?2G:82E:@?[ FD:?8 E96 DE2CD[ H:?5D 2?5 H2G6D E@ EC2G6CD6 E96 @462? H:E9@FE >@56C? :?DECF>6?ED] $96 H@?56CD :7 E96 >:DD:?8 =:?< 😕 E96D6 >JDE6C:6D >:89E =:6 😕 DA:C:EF2=:EJ — 2 BF2=:EJ D96 D2JD >2?J D4:6?E:DED 5:D>:DD]k^Am
kAmx? 42?@6:?8[ z2>2: D2JD D96 😀 =62C?:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 36:?8 “DA:C:EF2==J EF?65[” D66<:?8 4=F6D 96C 2?46DE@CD >2J 92G6 =67E 369:?5] $96 H@?56CD :7 36:?8 😕 E96 566A @462? 4@F=5 4C24< E96 >JDE6CJ @7 52C< 6?6C8J]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F 3@:= 5@H? A9JD:4D[ :E’D 2== 2 3F?49 @7 H2G6D — A2CE:4=6D[ D@F?5 H2G6D[” D96 D2:5] “(9J H@F=5?’E H6 ?665 E@ 36 😕 E96 566A6DE A2CE @7 @FC @462? E@ 92G6 E96 566A6DE 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 6?E:C6 F?:G6CD6nQk^Am
k9am#6D62C496C 7@F?5 D@=246 😕 w:?5F @C:8:? DE@C:6Dk^9am
kAms@F8 (2ED@? H2D 36D6E 3J 5@F3E 2D 2 A@DE5@4E@C2= 76==@H C6D62C49:?8 52C< >2EE6C] (96? 96 76=E 3FC?65 @FE[ 9:D H:76 :?EC@5F465 9:> E@ E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $@4:6EJ 7@C zC:D9?2 r@?D4:@FD?6DD[ @C x$zr~}[ H:56=J @H? 2D E96 w2C6 zC:D9?2 >@G6>6?E[ 2 3C2?49 @7 w:?5F:D> E92E 8=@C:7:6D {@C5 zC:D9?2 2D E96 $FAC6>6 q6:?8] (2ED@?[ H9@ FD65 E@ 36 ?@?C6=:8:@FD[ D2:5 96 6>3C2465 2 C6=:8:@FD EC25:E:@? E92E 6?4@FC2865 5@F3E[ 4FC:@D:EJ 2?5 D4:6?E:7:4 :?BF:CJ]k^Am
kAmw6 DEF5:65 9@=J E6IED =:<6 E96 $C:>25 q9282G2E2>[ H9:49 56D4C:36D 2 D46?6 H96? zC:D9?2’D EC2?D46?56?E2= 82K6 2?:>2E6D E96 F?:G6CD6] %9:D[ E@ (2ED@?[ D66>D “66C:=J D:>:=2C” E@ E96 @3D6CG6C 67764E 😕 BF2?EF> >6492?:4D — E96 A96?@>6?@? H96C6 E96 24E @7 >62DFC:?8 @C @3D6CG:?8 2 BF2?EF> DJDE6>[ DF49 2D 2 AC@E@? @C 6=64EC@?[ 492?86D :ED DE2E6]k^Am
kAm(2ED@? 92D FD65 E96D6 DE@C:6D 2D :?DA:C2E:@? E@ @G6C4@>6 32CC:6CD E92E AC@>AE65 9:D 3FC?@FE]k^Am
kAm“x 567:?:E6=J 5@?’E E9:?< 5C2H:?8 5:C64E =:?6D 36EH66? C6=:8:@FD E6IED 2?5 D4:6?E:7:4 724ED 😀 E96 C:89E 2AAC@249[” 96 D2:5] “#2E96C[ x D66 9@H E96D6 DE@C:6D 4@F=5 :?7@C> 2?5 :?DA:C6 ?6H H2JD @7 E9:?<:?8 23@FE E96 @C:8:?D @7 E96 F?:G6CD6]”k^Am
k9ams:776C:?8 :?E6CAC6E2E:@?D @7 52C< >2EE6CVD >62?:?8k^9am
kAm$@>6 D4:6?E:DED[ DF49 2D 2DEC@3:@=@8:DE p52> uC2?<[ H2C? E92E D66<:?8 D24C65?6DD 😕 E@A:4D =:<6 52C< >2EE6C >:89E 6?5 😕 5:D2AA@:?E>6?E 3642FD6 D4:6?46 4@?DE2?E=J 6G@=G6D]k^Am
kAm“*@F 5@?’E H2?E E@ 32D6 J@FC 72:E9 @C DA:C:EF2=:EJ @? 2 8C2A9 😕 2 D4:6?E:7:4 A2A6C E92E 8@6D FA @C 5@H?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@C uC2?<[ 2 +6? qF559:DE[ E96 ECF6 =:?< 36EH66? D4:6?46 2?5 DA:C:EF2= 6?562G@C 😀 E96 2H6 E96J :?DE:==]k^Am
kAm“(96E96C :E’D E96 A@6ECJ @7 J@FC D4C:AEFC6 E92E J@F =@G6 @C E96 362FEJ @7 E96 6BF2E:@?D J@F 2C6 56C:G:?8[ E96J’C6 3@E9 42==D E@H2C5 E92E 766=:?8[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 72:E97F=[ 2446AE2?46 E92E E96C6 😀 ?@E9:?8 EC2?D46?56?E 23@FE E9:D H@C=5 😀 D:>A=J :>A@DD:3=6[ D2:5 r2?6C s28=:[ 2? xD=2>:4 D49@=2C 2?5 C6=:8:@FD DEF5:6D AC@76DD@C 2E E96 r@==686 @7 E96 w@=J rC@DD 😕 |2DD249FD6EED]k^Am
kAmQ%C2?D9F>2?:DED 2?5 @E96C A9:=@D@A96CD >:89E E9:?< E92E :7 H6 ;FDE 925 6?@F89 4@>AFE:?8 A@H6C[ H6 >:89E 36 23=6 E@ 86E E96 6BF2E:@?D E@ C62==J F?56CDE2?5 E96 F?:G6CD6 4@>A=6E6=J[” 96 D2:5] “qFE E92E’D @77 E96 E23=6 7@C |FD=:>D 3642FD6 H6 36=:6G6 v@5 :?E6CG6?6D 😕 9:DE@CJ[ 96 2?DH6CD AC2J6C]”k^Am
kAmr9C:D x>A6J[ AC@76DD@C @7 2DEC@?@>J 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 pC:K@?2[ 92D @7E6? G:D:E65 x?5:2 E@ E6249 %:36E2? >@?^9F3^52=2:\=2>2QmE96 s2=2: {2>2VDk^2m :?G:E2E:@?] q6:?8 2H65 3J 2 >JDE:7J:?8 F?:G6CD6 766=D =:<6 2 DA:C:EF2= 6IA6C:6?46[ 96 D2JD]k^Am
kAmx>A6J[ 2? 28?@DE:4[ 92D 7@F?5 >2?J 2DA64ED @7 qF559:D> 4@>A2E:3=6 H:E9 >@56C? 4@D>@=@8J]k^Am
kAm“%96J 42? 244@>>@52E6 😕 E96:C EC25:E:@? 2? 2?4:6?E F?:G6CD6[ 3:==:@?D @7 J62CD @=5[” 96 D2:5] “%96J 42? 244@>>@52E6 >2?J H@C=5D[ =:76 😕 @E96C H@C=5D[ =:76 >@C6 25G2?465 E92? FD]”k^Am
k9am$4:6?E:7:4 :?BF:CJ 4@F=5 36 A2E9H2J E@ E96 5:G:?6k^9am
kAmp52> w:?46[ 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 52C< >2EE6C 2?5 52C< 6?6C8J 4@F=5 6=6G2E6 E96:C >:?5D E@ v@5]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 2=D@ @E96C E9:?8D 😕 E96 F?:G6CD6 E92E 7@C D@>6[ H@F=5 36 2 D:>:=2C 4@?5F:E[ DF49 2D 2 362FE:7F= H2E6C72==[” 96 D2:5] “pD E96 4C62E@C[ v@5 😀 AC6D6?E 😕 2== @7 4C62E:@?[ 2?5 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 4C62E:@? 😀 2 A@CE2= E@ 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 E96 5:G:?6]”k^Am
kAmpFDEC2=:2? 2DEC@A9JD:4:DE z6? uC66>2? 😀 4@?D:56C65 2 “52C< >2EE6C A:@?66C” AC:>2C:=J 7@C 9:D =2?5>2C< `hf_ C6D62C49 E92E AC@G:565 D@>6 @7 E96 7:CDE >@56C? 6G:56?46 @7 :?G:D:3=6 >2DD 😕 DA:C2= 82=2I:6D] uC66>2? 😀 r9C:DE:2?j =:<6 >2?J D4:6?E:DED 367@C6 9:>[ 96 H@?56CD 23@FE E96 C@=6 @7 :?EF:E:@? 😕 D4:6?E:7:4 5:D4@G6CJ]k^Am
kAm“*@F H2<6 FA 😕 E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 ?:89E H:E9 2 E9@F89E 2?5 J@F 92G6 ?@ :562 H96C6 E92E 42>6 7C@>[” 96 D2:5] “!6@A=6 @7 72:E9 >:89E =@@< 2E :E 2D E96 24E:@? @7 E96 w@=J $A:C:E]”k^Am
kAm(2D 9:D FC86 E@ DEF5J 52C< >2EE6C E96 w@=J $A:C:EVD H@C
kAm“x H@F=5 ?@E A2:?E :E E92E H2J[ 3FE :E’D 2 ?288:?8 A@DD:3:=:EJ[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmy6??:76C (:D6>2?[ 2 r9C:DE:2? 2DEC@A9JD:4:DE[ 5C2HD @? 96C 72:E9 7@C H:D5@> 2D D96 :?G6DE:82E6D E96 3:8[ 6?:8>2E:4 BF6DE:@?D @7 E96 F?:G6CD6 2?5 A@?56CD FD:?8 D4:6?E:7:4 AC@8C6DD E@ D6CG6 9F>2?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“$EF5J:?8 E96 566A F?:G6CD6 >2J >2<6 FD 766= :?D:8?:7:42?E[” (:D6>2? D2:5] “qFE :E 2=D@ 8:G6D FD 2 D6?D6 @7 F?:EJ E92E H6’C6 2== @? E96 D2>6 A=2?6E] ]]] %96 9@A6 😀 H6 86E 2 D6?D6 @7 ;@J[ 9F>:=:EJ 2?5 =@G6 7C@> E96D6 4@?E6>A=2E:@?D]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD C6=:8:@? 4@G6C286 C646:G6D DFAA@CE E9C@F89 E96 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:E]=J^2A\EH:CQm4@==23@C2E:@?k^2m H:E9 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@? &$[ H:E9 7F?5:?8 7C@> {:==J t?5@H>6?E x?4] %96 p! 😀 D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C E9:D 4@?E6?E]k^Am
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.