Dark matter candidates are theoretical particles or entities proposed to explain the mysterious substance that makes up about 27% of the universe's mass-energy content, yet does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it undetectable by conventional means. The leading candidates for dark matter include Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), axions, and sterile neutrinos. These candidates are hypothesized to interact primarily through gravity and possibly through weak nuclear forces, which accounts for their elusiveness.
Researchers are exploring various detection methods, such as direct detection experiments that search for rare interactions between dark matter particles and regular matter, and indirect detection strategies that look for byproducts of dark matter annihilations. Understanding dark matter candidates is crucial for unraveling the fundamental structure of the universe and addressing questions about its formation and evolution.
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