What role does Dark Matter play in the formation and maintenance of cosmic structures?
Answer
It acts as the gravitational scaffolding upon which visible structures like galaxies are built.
Dark matter's crucial cosmological role is providing the necessary attractive gravitational pull required for structure formation. Although invisible, its mass provides the underlying framework—the scaffolding—that prevents galaxies and galaxy clusters from flying apart due to rotational velocity. Without this substantial, unseen gravitational anchor, the visible matter (stars and gas) would simply lack the cohesive force necessary to maintain their observed structures, leading to rapid disintegration.
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