The Light and Dark Sides of the Universe

Abstract

The earth interacts with its nearby star--the sun. It receives warmth and light and a massive stream of energetic particles called the solar wind. The interaction of earth with the solar wind produces a condition called space weather. This has significant consequences in our technological society ranging from power blackouts to satellite failures to our beautiful Alaskan auroras. Moving far out into the galaxy and universe, things exist in forms we are only beginning to understand. Dark matter and dark energy dominate the unseen part of the universe and represent more than 90% of what's out there. There is controversy over what these things are and it's worth exploring.