Dark Matter and Dark Energy: The mystifing side of the universe

Currently, evidence astronomers have collected that supports the existence of dark matter and dark energy is highly controversial. Even though dark matter and dark energy presently can not be detected by sight, touch, or sound, many astronomers declare that they exist because of the evidence from the gravitational force dark matter exerts upon the galaxies in our universe, the fact that the universe is expanding at a rapid rate, and how dark matter and dark energy confirm the properties of space. Yet, some astronomers disagree with the existence of dark matter and think that MOND is a perfect replacement for dark matter. Other astronomers believe that dark matter is really antimatter, and some scientists think that dark matter could be baryonic matter. Many astronomers who are against the existence of dark energy think that the big bang is responsible for the expansion of the universe. From the overall data collected, the existence for dark matter and dark energy is very strong.

Reasons for Existence:

Concrete evidence that proves that dark matter exists is revealed in the rotational curve in galaxies. Astronomers use the rotational curve of a galaxy to plot how fast a star is moving depending on how far away it is from the galactic center of a galaxy. In an article about dark matter from National Geographic it summarizes how in the early 1970’s a young astronomer by the name of Vera Rubin discovered that “the curve stayed flat out to the limits of what could be measured- the stars kept moving at the same speed no matter how far they were from the galactic center” (Trefil, 2014, p. 88). Due to this observation, astronomers came to the conclusion that galaxies are surrounded by some kind of matter that can not be seen. This undetec...

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...xies, causing the universe to expand at a rapid rate, and how both dark matter and dark energy confirm the properties of space. There are arguments against the existence of dark matter and dark energy. Some astronomers think that MOND is the reason to why everything in the galaxy is being held together. Other researchers think dark matter is really antimatter or baryonic matter, some astronomers also believe that the expansion of the universe is not caused by dark energy, but the universe is expanding as a result of the big bang. Dark matter and dark energy are still mystifying theories in the 21st century. However with current the knowledge astronomers have obtained by observing the effects dark matter and dark energy have upon the universe, many astronomers conclude that if our universe was void of dark matter and dark energy, the universe would have never been.