Determine the nature of dark matter

Determine the fundamental physical nature of dark matter, the non-luminous matter component inferred from its gravitational effects and estimated to constitute approximately 27% of the universe’s total mass-energy density, by identifying what dark matter is composed of and characterizing its physical properties.

Background

The paper reviews observational evidence for dark matter, including galaxy rotation curves and gravitational lensing, which indicate substantial non-luminous mass distributed in and around galaxies and clusters. Despite these robust gravitational signatures, the underlying physical identity of dark matter remains unresolved.

Within the ΛCDM cosmological model, dark matter is a core ingredient required to explain large-scale structure formation and cosmological observations. The authors emphasize that, notwithstanding decades of theoretical and experimental efforts, the true nature of dark matter is still unknown, motivating the need for clear guidance for educators and further investigation.