Hidden Universe: Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Imagine a giant tree standing tall in a vast forest. You see its branches reaching for the sky and its leaves soaking up sunlight, but beneath the surface, there’s an entire hidden network of roots. These roots are crucial—they anchor the tree and provide nourishment, even though we can’t see them.

Our universe is a lot like that tree. What we can see, like stars, planets, and galaxies, are just the branches and leaves—the visible part of the tree. But most of what makes the universe work is invisible. These invisible forces are dark matter and dark energy, and together, they form the unseen roots of the cosmic tree. Let’s dive into this mystery, using the tree and its unseen roots as our guide.

What We See Is Only a Small Part of the Story

What we can see—the stars, planets, and galaxies—makes up less than 5% of everything. The rest, a whopping 95%, is made up of dark matter and dark energy.

• Dark matter is like the hidden roots of the universe. It makes up 27% of the cosmos and holds galaxies together with its gravity.
• Dark energy is the force that pushes the universe to grow and expand, making up a massive 68%.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Dark Matter: The Hidden Roots Holding Everything Together

Dark Matter is invisible, but it has gravity, which pulls things together in space, like stars and galaxies.

Dark matter makes up 27% of the universe. Scientists figured out that without it, galaxies would fly apart because the visible matter (stars and planets) alone doesn’t have enough gravity to hold everything together. Just like how tree roots keep the tree from falling, dark matter keeps galaxies from coming apart. It’s the hidden glue that binds the universe together.

Credit: Volker Springel/Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics/Science Photo Library

Dark Energy: The Force Making the Universe Grow

Now, let’s think about how a tree grows. It doesn’t just stay the same size—its branches stretch out, reaching higher and farther. This growth is powered by energy that we can’t always see. In the universe, there’s a similar force making everything stretch out: Dark Energy.

Dark energy makes up 68% of the universe, and it’s causing the universe to expand faster and faster. Imagine that the tree’s branches are growing at an ever-increasing speed. Dark energy is the invisible force pushing the universe to grow, making galaxies move farther apart from each other. 

Source: Answersingenesis.org

The Universe’s Hidden Forces: Nourished by the Unknown

Just as a tree’s roots and shoots rely on different sources for nourishment, the universe’s growth and stability come from the unseen forces. While we know trees get their strength from the earth and sunlight, the source of dark matter and dark energy’s power is still a mystery. We can think of it as an invisible force that’s always been there, silently doing its job.

In ancient wisdom like the Yoga Vasistha, we learn that the visible world is just the tip of the iceberg—there’s always more happening beneath the surface. The unseen forces of dark matter and dark energy remind us that there’s much more to the universe than what meets the eye.

The Silent Architects of the Universe

As we reflect on the mysteries of the universe, it becomes clear that the unseen forces guiding the cosmos are as profound as the wisdom embedded in ancient traditions. Just as Maha Kaali governs the endless expansion of time and space, and Kaal Bhairav holds the universe in balance, dark energy and dark matter remain the silent architects of our reality.

We may not fully understand the source of their power, just as we cannot always grasp the vastness of cosmic time or the infinite cycles of creation and dissolution. Yet, there is a beauty in this mystery—an awe-inspiring reminder that the universe operates through forces far beyond our senses and intellect.

In this vast dance of creation, destruction, and preservation, we find ourselves as part of a much greater story. We are connected to both the visible and the invisible. Just as the roots of a tree are hidden from sight yet vital to its growth, these cosmic forces quietly shape the universe.

And in the face of this grand cosmic dance, we can only stand in wonder and gratitude—grateful for the opportunity to witness the profound intelligence and balance that sustains all of existence.