• Question: What is the universe made of ?

    Asked by Daniel to Adrian, Gaia, Jim, Scott, Vicky on 11 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Adrian Buzatu

      Adrian Buzatu answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      Only 5% of the Universe is matter as we know it. 99% of it is in stars, made of hydrogen and helium. 25% of the Universe is made of an unknown form of matter called dark matter. 70% of the Universe is made of an unknown form of energy called dark energy.

    • Photo: Scott Lawrie

      Scott Lawrie answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      There are only 17 things that make up the universe. Tiny sub-atomic particles that make up a kind of recipe book called the ‘Standard Model’. Actually, though, only about 6 or 7 of those 17 things exist in any large numbers and make up you and me. Those 6 things are like Lego building blocks which come together in different ways to make everything you can see.

      Scientists are running a big machine in France to see if they kind find any other bits to add to the ‘standard model’, but even if they do, those things will be very rare and exotic and don’t contribute to making up the ‘stuff’ we play with in our every day lives.

Comments