Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and asked yourself: What is out there that we can’t see?
Sure, we have cataloged galaxies, found exoplanets, and sent probes beyond Pluto. But, what if I told you that everything we know – planets, stars, people, pizza, is less than 5% of the universe?

So, what’s the “95%”? This is where dark matter comes into the cosmic conversation.

What is dark matter?

Despite how it sounds like a supervillain in a Marvel movie, dark matter is not evil. Dark Matter is a form of strange matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light. To put it another way: it’s invisible. We can’t see it. We can’t touch it. We can’t take a picture of it – but it is there.

Why? It pulls; it has gravity.

When astronomers watched to see how galaxies spun, they saw something weird. Galaxies were spinning so fast that they should have flown apart from each other, much like the toppings of a pizza off a poorly made crust. But they did not – sitting together as one. Something was holding them together – and it was not visible.

Does dark matter really exist?

Great question. Does it really exist, or are scientists cosmically trying to make excuses? We cannot “see” dark matter, but we have strong indirect evidence for its existence:

• Galaxy rotation curves: Once again, outer regions of galaxies spin much faster than we expect. The gravitational pull of dark matter is the only way to explain that.
• Gravitational lensing: We expect light to bend around massive objects, but it bends way too much. That seems to imply that there is mass we can’t see with our telescopes (i.e. dark matter) there.
• Cosmic microwave background (CMB): This is the afterglow of the Big Bang; it carries the fingerprints of dark matter in the way the mass is distributed.
• Large scale structure of the Universe: The cosmic web of galaxies stretches in ways similar to what we expect if dark matter is shaping the universe.

So we don’t see it, but we feel its tug. Dark matter exists, even if it is a cosmic ninja hiding in plain sight behind gravity.

How much of the universe is dark matter?

About 27%. Now that is more than five times the amount of normal matter (5% normal atoms).

To put it another way:

• 5%: All atoms (us, stars, gas, dogs, coffee)
• 27%: Dark Matter (invisible glue)
• 68%: Dark Energy (the accelerator of the universe’s expansion)

Yup, most of the universe is made up of stuff we can’t see, now cue the existential crisis.

What is dark matter made of?

Quick Answer: We don’t know!

Longer answer: There are theories. Some common candidates are:

• WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles): They are massive particles with little chance of interacting with normal matter.
• Axions: These are supposed ultra-light particles that might explain the invisible mass of dark matter.
• Sterile neutrinos: Ghost particles that have non-gravitational interactions with matter.

There is also the idea that dark matter isn’t matter at all, rather its suggestive of our gravitational understanding is incomplete.

TL;DR: Either something new or we need to start over with cosmic physics.

How do we know it is there?

Essentially, detecting dark matter is through its effects on other things, most commonly through gravity. You can think of it as a crime thriller where you never see the culprit, but you see all the evidence left behind.

There are also huge underground experiments, such as the XENONnT detector in Italy or LUX-ZEPLIN in America, designed to “listen” for the odd times dark matter could collide with a normal particle.

So far? Nothing. And nothing is not the same as evidence of nothing.

Why is it referred to as “dark” matter?

“Dark” here does not mean evil. It means unknown. It emits no light and interacts with no light—so it is metaphorically dark. It could have been called “invisible stuff that makes no sense” but scientists thought it was cooler to be mysterious.

Is dark matter on Earth?

I mean, sure! Dark matter might be coming through you right now.
I am not joking. The Earth is flying through a dark matter “halo” that is around the Milky Way. There are billions of dark matter particles passing through you every second, without you even knowing!

Is dark matter dangerous?

Not as far as we know. It does not interact with our atoms, so it will not hurt us, nor destroy any civilization (unlike climate change).

If anything, we should be thankful for dark matter. Without it, galaxies would not hold together. Then there could be no galaxies whatsoever, meaning… no stars, no planets, and no us.

What is the difference between dark matter and dark energy?

• Dark Matter: Holds things together. Adds gravity.
• Dark Energy: Pushes things apart. Drives expansion.

In short, dark matter is cosmic glue. Dark energy is a cosmic jet engine.

Who discovered dark matter?

The concept traces back to the 1930s when Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky noticed something odd within galaxy clusters – they appeared far too massive, based on visible matter, to be exhibiting the velocity they were.

In the 1970s, Vera Rubin then buttressed the case when she pointed out that galaxies weren’t behaving in the way that Newtonian physics suggested they should have. She was one of the key figures in proving the existence of dark matter.

So what happens now?

We now have confirmed that dark matter is out there. It’s real. It’s significant. But we still don’t know what it is. For now, it is one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the cosmos. Scientists are making increasingly sensitive detectors, launching missions to space, and running simulation – all in their pursuit of this invisible puzzle piece.

Why Is Everyone Suddenly Searching for “Dark Matter”?

Fascination with dark matter has increased suddenly, however, this kind of dark matter is not necessarily cosmic.

Dark Matter recently premiered on Apple TV+ in 2024, and it has led many viewers to ask Is there a season 2 of Dark Matter and What is Dark Matter about New discussions about dark matter and alternate realities, and identity crises sound much like real science discussions around the multiverse and quantum physics. People who were initially attracted to the thriller are suddenly falling down the rabbit hole of actual astrophysics.

And it is not an accident.

As people search are searching terms like “is there a season 2 of Dark Matter?” and “what is Dark Matter about?” they also encountered amazing truths like 27% of our universe is made up of something invisible (Dark Matter) and we still do not know what it is.

What we have learned through entertainment is that Dark Matter exists even though it is not a fictional world. It has created very real questions about the aspects of our universe we cannot see. Suddenly, Dark Matter has transitioned from something we’d read in science fiction to a very real crossover between entertainment and science.

FAQs

How many episodes does Dark Matter have?

Season 1 of Dark Matter has 9 episodes. Each episode dives deeper into parallel realities, identity, and the choices that define who we are.

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Is Dark Matter a limited series? Will there be a Season 2?

As of now, Apple TV+ has not officially confirmed Season 2, but the show’s popularity and cliffhanger finale have sparked speculation and demand. Searches like “will there be a Dark Matter season 2?” and “is there a season 2 of Dark Matter?” are trending for a reason, fans want more.

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Where can I watch Dark Matter?

You can stream all episodes of Dark Matter exclusively on Apple TV+.
Searches like “where to watch Dark Matter?” and “what time does Dark Matter release on Apple TV?” were especially popular during the weekly rollout.

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What is Dark Matter about?

It’s a mind-bending sci-fi thriller where a physicist named Jason Dessen is abducted into an alternate version of his life. It explores themes of regret, identity, and infinite realities—prompting searches like “who is the real Jason in Dark Matter?” and “what is Dark Matter about on Apple TV?”

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Where was Dark Matter filmed?

The series was primarily filmed in Chicago, Illinois—giving it that gritty, grounded yet eerie tone. People have been curious with searches like “where was Dark Matter filmed?”

Conclusion

When we think of science we often think of it as being resolute. When it comes to dark matter, the universe is not all out of cards. This is a representative of just how strange – and humbling – the universe can be.

So the next time you look up at the stars, remember: Most of what is up there,d is dark.

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