FAQ

Dark Matter

Lately I’ve been researching dark matter and dark energy, and I’ve been wondering, out of all the candidates that could be dark matter (brown dwarfs, neutrinos, black holes, etc.), which is most likely? I was also wondering the same about dark energy.

Thank you for your inquiry! Here is what I can tell you about dark matter and dark energy:

Dark matter:
Actually, developments since the 1970s and 1980s have helped rule out all of the dark matter candidates you listed below (planets, brown dwarfs, black holes, neutrinos) as the primary dark matter candidate. Planets, brown dwarfs,...

Careers in Astronomy

Should people, like myself, continue on focusing on a science degree? Would it still be worth it despite the current job market?

From your email, it sounds like you are concerned about job prospects in the physical sciences. While it is true that it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to become a researcher or professor, it is also true that students who study physics as undergraduates and graduate students rarely find themselves unemployed. Physics is a very well-respected field, and physics research typically allows you to develop highly marketable skills like computer programming...