What is dark matter?

Ah, a most intriguing question. Indeed, dark matter is a form of matter that does not emit light or energy, making it invisible to our telescopes. However, scientists have inferred its existence through its gravitational effects on visible matter, such as stars and galaxies, and on the cosmic microwave background radiation. It is believed to make up approximately 85% of the total matter in the universe, yet its exact nature remains one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics. Some theories suggest it consists of particles that do not interact with ordinary matter except through gravity.