Dark Matter & Dark Energy

Discover the universe's building blocks – matter, dark matter, and dark energy.

Overview

Everything scientists can observe in the universe, from people to planets, is made of matter. Matter is defined as any substance that has mass and occupies space. But there’s more to the universe than the matter we can see. Dark matter and dark energy are mysterious substances that affect and shape the cosmos, and scientists are still trying to figure them out.

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Dark Matter and Energy Stories

Explore All Dark Matter and Energy Stories
Article
4 min read

NASA, JAXA XRISM Mission Looks Deeply Into ‘Hidden’ Stellar System

Illustration of the Cygnus X-3 system
Article
5 min read

Hats Off to NASA’s Webb: Sombrero Galaxy Dazzles in New Image

Image of a galaxy on the black background of space. The galaxy is a very oblong, blue disk that extends from left to right at an angle (from about 10 o’clock to 5 o’clock). The galaxy has a small bright core at the center. There is an inner disk that is clearer, with speckles of stars scattered throughout. The outer disk of the galaxy is whiteish-blue, and clumpy, like clouds in the sky. There are different colored dots, distant galaxies, speckled among the black background of space surrounding the galaxy.
A spiral galaxy seen directly from the side, such that its disk looks like a narrow diagonal band across the image. A band of dark dust covers the disk in the center most of the way out to the ends, and the disk glows around that. In the center of the galaxy, a whitish circle of light bulges out above and below the disk. Each end of the disk curves slightly. The background is black and mostly empty.
2 min read

Hubble Captures an Edge-On Spiral with Curve Appeal

Article4 days ago
1 min read

Ring Around Tabby’s Star

Image Article
Artist's concept of early stages of the young star FU Orionis outburst. The star, a bright yellow sphere near the center, and its fluffy disk of gas and dust are slightly tilted, extending from the top left corner to the bottom right. The swirling disk is bright yellow close to the star and gradually transitions to dark orange moving toward the edges of the frame. The top left and right corners reveal a black, starless background.
5 min read

NASA’s Hubble Finds Sizzling Details About Young Star FU Orionis

Article5 days ago
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