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China successfully launches its first dark matter satellite

By Cheng Yingqi (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2015-12-17 09:44

China successfully launches its first dark matter satellite

Carrier Long March 2-D rocket blasts off, sending into space the country's first Dark Matter Particle Explorer Satellite at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province, Dec 17, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

What's dark matter?

Dark matter is one of the most important mysteries of physics. Scientists believe in its existence based on the law of universal gravitation, but have never directly detected it.

Accounting for over a quarter of the universe's mass-energy balance, it can only be observed indirectly through its interaction with visible matter.

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