Understanding the Difference Between Dark Matter and Anti-Matter

Most people who like science fiction or even real science have heard of antimatter at one point in their lives. Now there is a new concept of a new type of matter called dark matter. Many people, upon hearing this would assume that they are the same thing or at least very similar. I am afraid they are misguided. Dark matter and antimatter are in fact, two different things. Let us take a look at the differences.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Everything that has a beginning has an end. A spectrum has two sides. All of these sayings imply that everything has an opposite. Matter is no different. If we and all of the normal matter the universe, stars, planets, galaxies, etc. are on one end of the spectrum, then antimatter would be what is on the other end of the spectrum. What's scary about antimatter is that, if it exists, then it cannot react with matter from the other end of the spectrum. Doing so would result in the destruction of not only the antimatter, but our matter as well. This would be bad, because antimatter is supposed to be all around us, surrounding the entire galaxy, all the time.

Now it's name would imply that dark matter is similar if not the same when compared to antimatter. But dark matter is another form of matter entirely. It is matter than cannot be seen because it does not give off light and it does not reflect light. This could be something as simple as a black planet far away from a star or even materials on earth could be considered dark matter. Interestingly, dark matter has another curious thing to accompany it. This is dark energy. It's similar to regular energy, only it is energy given off by dark matter. Since energy is expressed as light and heat, it must be a completely new form of energy.

Have you figured out the difference between the two yet? Let me tell you. Matter and antimatter are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Dark matter is still on our side. If antimatter and dark matter were to interact, then they would both be destroyed. If dark matter and regular matter interact, then they are both still left intact. This raises all sorts of frightening concepts for physics, such as the existence of anti-energy, or dark antimatter and dark anti-energy. If all of this big mess of matter and energy were to collide and interact, then everything would be pretty much destroyed.

But remember that all of this information is highly theoretical. Anti-matter may turn out to not even exist, although there is a strong possibility. Dark matter's existence has been confirmed through indirect observations via gravity. Dark energy and anti-energy are still entirely theoretical.

Sources: www.wikipedia.org
Glencoe Literature 2005