Question

Present evidence suggests that the major ingredient of the universe is in the form of

Answer 1

The major ingredient of the universe is dark matter, which interacts through gravity and is essential for the formation of galaxies. The Big Bang model explains the universe's evolution, and studying diffuse matter offers insights into star formation and the universe’s makeup.

Step-by-step explanation:

Present evidence suggests that the major ingredient of the universe is in the form of dark matter. Dark matter is an elusive substance that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects. To explain the abundance of dark matter, theories propose the existence of particles known as WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles). These particles are believed to have played a crucial role in the formation of galaxies by creating gravitational traps that concentrated ordinary matter, thus facilitating galaxy formation when the universe was just 400-500 million years old.

The Big Bang model describes how a nearly uniform hot soup of particles and energy in the early universe led to the large-scale structure we see today. Minor variations in density allowed for concentrations of matter that eventually became galaxies. Evidence of the universe's hot beginnings is found in the cosmic microwave background and the abundance of light elements such as deuterium, helium, and lithium formed during nucleosynthesis shortly after the Big Bang.

While studying diffuse matter between stars, including atoms, molecules, and dust, scientists gather insights into star formation and our cosmic origins. However, this baryonic matter constitutes only a small fraction of the universe's content compared to dark matter. Understanding dark matter is essential to comprehend the universe's composition and the large-scale structure of cosmic objects.

Answer 2

The major ingredient of the universe is dark matter, making up about 27% of its critical density and influencing the formation of galaxies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Present evidence suggests that the major ingredient of the universe is in the form of dark matter, which comprises approximately 27% of the critical density of the universe. While we can observe atoms, molecules of gas, and dust particles between the stars, these constitute only a fraction of the universe's total matter. Dark matter, on the other hand, is not directly observable because it interacts very weakly with electromagnetic radiation. It plays a pivotal role in the structure and evolution of the universe, including the formation of galaxies. An intriguing candidate for dark matter are WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles), which scientists are actively looking to detect in experiments. A deeper understanding of dark matter continues to be a fundamental goal in the field of cosmology.