Our Missing Universe: Dark Matter - How Scientists Lost 90% of Our Universe

Imagine right now as you read this that strange particles are passing through your body without you even knowing it. Or, imagine that ninety percent of the universe is invisible to the eye, or any other type of scientific instrument, completely undetectable but completely existent. Imagine that if it weren't for a mystical substance keeping galaxies together, they would be ripped apart in a matter of seconds. This all sounds like a science fiction novel, doesn't it?

Well, contrary to belief, each one of these statements is true. Both astronomers and physicists are scrambling to discover this missing matter, which they have named dark matter, for lack of better word. So far, these scientists have developed two basic theories about dark matter, which constitutes that particular ninety percent of the universe that we can't see.

The first theory regarding dark matter, developed by astronomers, deals with Massive Compact Halo Objects, or MACHOs. These MACHOs are such strange things as black holes and brown dwarfs. Black holes are thought to be giant masses of gas that collapse in on itself due to gravity. These masses were so large that when they collapsed, they created huge gravitational fields, because of their extreme density. The gravity of these objects is so strong that not even light waves can escape their grasp. Brown dwarfs, on the other hand, are sort of the opposite in the astronomical world. Although these too used to be giant clouds of gas, when they collapsed, they formed only loosely bound "stars." In fact, when the gas collided in on itself, it didn't produce enough of an impact to generate a nuclear reaction. These nuclear reactions cause stars to start burning, thus producing light. However, since the gas didn't really "ignite," these stars don't produce any light, remaining forever hidden to the human eye.