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Article: Dark matter, dark energy still keeping astronomers in the dark
- Article from:
- AP Worldstream
- Article date:
- June 20, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightProvided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Dateline: WASHINGTON
The Earth, moon, sun and all visible stars in the sky make up less
than one percent of the universe. Almost all the rest is dark matter
and dark energy, unknown forces that puzzle astronomers.
Observations in recent years have changed the basic understanding
of how the universe evolved and have emphasized for astronomers how
little is known about the major forces and substances that shaped
our world.
Astronomers now know that luminous matter _ stars, planets and hot
gas _ account for only about 0.4 percent of the universe. Nonluminous
components, such as black holes and intergalactic gas, make up 3.6
percent. The rest is either dark matter, about ...