What if scientists had no firm idea what makes up most of the universe?
Well, they don't. The dark matter problem (only 5% of the universe is
assuredly composed of stuff like us) is one of the most fundamental and
profoundly difficult to solve problems in the history of science. Not
knowing what makes up most of the known universe goes to the heart of
our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. In Search of Dark
Matter is the story of the emergence of the dark matter problem, from
the initial erroneous 'discovery' of dark matter by Jan Oort to
contemporary explanations for the nature of dark matter and its role in
the origin and evolution of the Universe.
Written for the educated non-scientist and scientist alike, ihis
fascinating account spans a variety of scientific disciplines, from
observational astronomy to particle physics. Concepts that the reader
will encounter along the way are at the cutting edge of scientific
research. However the themes are explained in such a way that no prior
understanding of science beyond a high school education is necessary.