The 4 Percent Universe

Book excerpt: Over the past few decades, a handful of scientists have been racing to explain a disturbing aspect of our universe: only 4% of it consists of the matter that makes up you, me, our books, and every star and planet. The rest of the universe is completely unknown. Acclaimed science writer Richard Panek tells the dramatic story of the quest to unlock the secrets of "dark matter" and the even stranger substance known as "dark energy", which comprise a startling 96% of existence. These are perhaps the greatest mysteries remaining in science, and solving them will reshape our understanding of the universe and our place in it. Panek's fast-paced narrative, filled with original, in-depth reporting and intimate, behind-the-scenes details, brings this epic story to life for the very first time. Book jacket.