Little Sabiha looks up at the sky and asks, “Abbu, are those stars looking at us?” Her father smiles and replies, “They’re not looking at us—it’s we who look for them.”
This is the eternal question—the desire to know the mysteries of the sky—that has drawn humanity across ages to the unknown path of the universe. Yet, there is a wondrous truth: everything we see—stars, planets, galaxies—together makes up only 5 percent of this “visible universe!”
Where is the other 95 percent?
According to scientists, the remaining 95 percent of the universe is made up of elements that we cannot see or touch, but whose existence we can sense. One part is called dark matter, and the other is dark energy.
These names might evoke tales of the supernatural, but they play a crucial role in balancing and expanding the universe—even saving galaxies from being torn apart.
Such a mysterious structure of the universe teaches us that there is still so much we do not know. Dark matter and dark energy are the greatest challenges facing modern astronomy.
Dark Matter: The Shadow That Has Mass
Even though we cannot see dark matter, it reveals itself through its gravitational pull. This is a type of matter that neither absorbs nor reflects light. Nevertheless, by analyzing the rotation patterns of galaxies, scientists have understood that something non-ordinary is present here—something that has mass, even if it’s not conventional matter.
Cambridge University professor Vera Rubin (who worked on the dynamics of galaxy rotation) once said, “What we see is only a small piece of the full picture. The rest remains hidden in the dark.”
Dark Energy: The Mystery of Expansion
In 1998, a group of astronomers revealed a stunning discovery—the universe is not only expanding but its expansion is accelerating. This expansion is driven by a force known as dark energy, which constitutes about 68% of the universe.
To this day, we do not know the source of this energy, but its existence cannot be denied.
Public Opinion and Interest
Sabiha Mahmud, a student of the Department of Physics at the University of Dhaka, says, “We’ve been looking at the stars since childhood, but never realized that the visible sky wasn’t the whole story. Learning about dark matter and dark energy is both frightening and fascinating.”
On social media, young researcher Rafi Adnan says, “The new generation is now curious about the universe. We try to explain science in simple terms so that everyone can understand just how much remains unknown.”
A Call to Move Forward
Research continues to unravel these cosmic mysteries, and a new generation of telescopes is being developed. NASA’s James Webb Telescope, the European Dark Energy Survey, and CERN’s Large Hadron Collider—all are united in this grand search.
Scientist Dr. Mashiur Rahman says, “The results of these studies are important not only for space, but also for opening new horizons in physics.” He encourages the younger generation to pursue more research in space science.
Final Words:
If only what we see was the truth, there would be no need for science at all. It is human curiosity that pushes us forward, on that timeless quest to find light within the darkness.
That journey continues today—to know, to touch, and one day to understand the unknown 95% of the universe.
Sources: NASA, ESA, Dark Energy Survey, Nature Journal, Interviews with Local Experts and Enthusiasts.
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