Scientists have made incredible discoveries over the years, from unraveling how gravity works to understanding the structure of atoms. Yet, even with all these breakthroughs, some of the universe’s biggest questions still puzzle researchers. From the mysterious nature of dark matter to the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth, we’ve gathered the top six scientific mysteries that experts across eight publications agree remain unsolved. Is there a question that’s nagging you? Let us know below.
1. How did the Universe form?
The universe is infinite and mind-boggling, but how it all began is still a mystery and the number one question on the minds of many. Even Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest theoretical physicists, couldn’t pinpoint the answer. According to Reader’s Digest, some experts wonder if the universe had a beginning or has always existed.
The Big Bang may explain the universe’s evolution, but how it came into existence remains unknown. Was there something before the Big Bang, or did the universe appear out of nothing? According to World Atlas, the problem lies in the clash between two key theories—general relativity, which governs large-scale phenomena like gravity, and quantum mechanics, which rules the microscopic world. Until scientists bridge that gap, the universe’s true origins will remain one of physics’ biggest unsolved puzzles.
To understand how this happened, cosmologists use massive computer simulations, like the “Millennium Run” by scientists at Durham University, to virtually recreate the Universe. Sky At Night Magazine explains that researchers then compare these digital galaxies to the ones we see in space. Interestingly, one model fits the data well, suggesting that most of the Universe’s matter is made of dark particles that barely interact with regular atoms but are crucial in shaping galaxies.
2. What happens inside a black hole?
Black holes have such intense gravity that light can’t escape, making their interiors a mystery. However, Stephen Hawking theorized that information isn’t trapped inside but lingers on the event horizon, technically making it accessible. As Reader’s Digest points out, this theory creates a paradox since the event horizon exists outside the black hole—keeping scientists scratching their heads.
World Atlas says that until scientists can unite quantum mechanics and general relativity, the true nature of what lies inside black holes will remain a puzzle. This challenge has stumped even the brightest minds in physics, as each theory works perfectly on its own, but breaks down when applied together.
According to Urbo, Einstein’s theory of general relativity unlocked the mysteries of black holes, predicting they form when massive stars collapse. But what happens next? As a black hole gets smaller, it becomes infinitely dense, according to Einstein. However, scientists now think quantum physics is the key to truly understanding what happens at a black hole’s most extreme point.
3. How will the Universe end?
Scientists have yet to figure out how the Universe will end, just as they can’t fully explain how it began. What they do know is that life on Earth won’t last forever. Our Sun, like all stars, will eventually die. As Reader’s Digest points out, the Universe’s ultimate fate hinges on unknowns like its shape and density.
According to Sky at Night Magazine, many astronomers believe that thanks to dark energy, the Universe’s expansion will never slow down or reverse, leaving it to keep expanding indefinitely. As a result, the Universe may outlive people, planets, and even stars.
Don’t worry, though. The Universe is not going to end anytime soon, according to World Atlas. The Universe is currently 13.8 billion years old, and it will likely continue to exist for trillions upon trillions of years. While there are many good theories on how the Universe will end, the information scientists do have is far too limited to know for certain.
4. What is dark matter?
Scientists believe most of the Universe is made up of dark matter, a mysterious substance that neither emits light nor energy. While they know what dark matter isn’t, they still can’t figure out what it is. Reader’s Digest says that until scientists crack this puzzle, the Universe’s fate will remain one of its biggest mysteries.
Given that dark matter makes up 95 percent of the Universe, you would think the mystery would be solved by now, but it hasn’t. According to Watch Mojo, galaxies wouldn’t hold their shape without it, but we don’t know what it is, how it works, or why it’s so abundant.
For years, scientists thought dark matter might be made of WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), but these haven’t shown up in experiments like those at the Large Hadron Collider. Now, Science Focus reports researchers are looking at other candidates like the super-light axion or even primordial black holes from the Big Bang.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/unanswered-scientific-questions/?nab=0