dark matter
28
7.5
- noun
- /dɑrk ˈmætər/
- Specialized
:
materia oscura
- Modern cosmology relies on the existence of dark matter to explain the universe's structure.
- dark matter halos
- dark matter particles
- dark matter in galaxies
The question isn't about whether dark matter exists or not.
- The question isn't about whether dark matter exists or not.
- Could it be some sort of dark matter planet?
- Maybe they'll find something that sheds light on issues like dark matter and dark energy.
- He's, he's already been chairman of astronomy and he's a dark matter specialist.
- So what's happening is the very dense piece of dark matter has gravity because it still has mass.
Examples
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Now, the existence of dark matter is largely inferred from the gravitational effect on visible matter and the gravitational lensing of background radiation.
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We're learning so much about dark matter.
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And there is dark matter right in this room and this dark matter everywhere.
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But why would dark matter create a periodic annual signal?
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Dark matter is not a joke.
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The question isn't about whether dark matter exists or not.
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So what's happening is the very dense piece of dark matter has gravity because it still has mass.
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Both physicists and astronomers declare that identifying dark matter is a top priority.
Academic text (1993) -
The halos are spheres of dark matter with up to five times the mass of the light-emitting galaxy.
Academic text (1995) -
Scientists estimate that dark matter makes up about 27 percent of the universe's mass.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'dark' (lacking visible light) + 'matter' (physical substance), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to matter that is not visible or does not emit light. Although the full scientific implications (e.g. gravitational effects, hypothetical nature) require specialized knowledge, the basic concept is directly derivable and the construction is cross-linguistically common.
Etymology
The term dark matter comes from the simple image of dark meaning 'not seen' and matter meaning 'stuff'. It is like invisible stuff in space you cannot see but that pulls stars and galaxies, so it means 'invisible stuff that affects how things move in space'.