Dark matter, an invisible substance making up 85% of the universe's mass, remains one of the biggest scientific mysteries. While physicists infer its existence from gravitational effects, its true nature is unknown. Alongside dark energy, it has sparked profound religious and philosophical discussions among scientists.
Vera Rubin, whose 1970s observations provided key evidence for dark matter, embraced her Jewish faith as a guide. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, an agnostic-atheist and Jewish astrophysicist, credits Rubin's question about solving the dark matter problem with inspiring her study of the axion particle. She draws on Reconstructionist Jewish teachings and the Torah for inspiration.
Brittany Kamai, a Native Hawaiian astrophysicist, returned to her spiritual roots after working on the Fermilab Holometer. She trains in celestial navigation and wonders if spirituality holds clues to dark energy. Doug Watson, a former postdoctoral researcher, found inspiration in the Hare Krishna movement, noting parallels between holy texts and quantum mechanics.
Some scientists, like astrobiologist Adam Frank, caution against basing faith on evolving scientific theories. However, many find that studying the cosmos complements rather than conflicts with their spiritual practices.
