Today, Explained Unexplainable
Nov 24, 2020
Brian Resnick, a science reporter at Vox, dives into the captivating world of dark matter—an invisible force that shapes our universe yet eludes detection. He reveals how astronomers first uncovered its mystery in the 1960s by studying star behaviors, challenging Newtonian physics. Resnick discusses the experiments conducted in underground labs, emphasizing the patience needed in unraveling this cosmic enigma. He also honors the legacy of pioneer Vera Rubin, whose work continues to inspire curiosity about our place in the vast universe.
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Cosmic insignificance
- Noam Hassenfeld recalls a childhood fear of cosmic insignificance after watching Men in Black.
- The movie's ending, where the universe is a marble, sparked nightmares.
Andromeda's Unexpected Speeds
- Vera Rubin and Kent Ford observed stars at Andromeda's edge.
- Unexpectedly, the stars moved faster than Newton's laws predicted.
Challenging Existing Knowledge
- The unexpected star speeds challenged Newton's gravity or our galactic knowledge.
- This suggests undiscovered matter influencing star movement.
