Progress

With many questions still arising, there are some that lead us closer to the answer. It is important to start small and work off of what we know. We know that dark matter is not anything that we have encountered before but we do know its effects on the matter we are familiar with. Not only does it have a gravitational effect on its surroundings but it also distorts light as it tries to pass through it. This is how we begin to form the map of dark matter. Even though we cannot detect it in the same way as normal matter, dark matter gives us clues to where it is from its behavior. Below is the newest and largest map of known dark matter. The smaller color square is the previous map and compared to the full moon. So now we have a clearer view of its presence but we are still searching for its substance. Every small step takes us closer to a great discovery. This step has us heading in the direction of finding out the specific mass of dark matter particles which is key to determining what it is made of.

http://www.space.com/14176-dark-matter-biggest-map-unveiled.html
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2012/2012/42/results/100/