It doesn’t interact with light but has gravitational effects crucial for galaxy formation. Simulations show that without dark matter, galaxies wouldn’t form as they did. Its origin is tied to the early universe’s conditions, possibly created during or after inflation. Detecting it directly remains a challenge, but its fingerprints are everywhere. Understanding dark matter bridges early-universe physics and modern cosmology. It is one of the universe’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
It matters because dark matter shapes cosmic structure and evolution.
It also offers clues about physics beyond the Standard Model.
Dark matter may have formed within seconds of the Big Bang.
European Space Agency [esa.int]