vacuum energy n.— «What quantum theory says is that, powered by nothing whatsoever, the universe will still vibrate with what is sometimes called “vacuum energy” or “zero-point energy.”» —“The dark matter is the anti-matter source of zero point...
fossil group n.— «All that dark matter makes astronomers think that NGC 1132 grew up through the mergers of many smaller galaxies in an entire group, drawn in by the dark matter. That’s why the galaxy is sometimes called a “fossil group.” However...
neutralino n.— «Neutralinos are (or, at least, are predicted to be) the lightest and most stable of these new particles. And their stability means they may also solve a cosmological mystery, which is that a quarter of the universe seems to be made...
spherical bastard n.— «He reputedly derided the astronomers at Mount Wilson Observatory as “spherical bastards” because they looked like bastards from any side.» —“Mining for Dark Matter” by Guy Gugliotta Discover May, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued...