A History of Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical development of dark matter's acceptance in cosmology, highlighting observational discoveries and theoretical arguments that shaped its role in the standard model.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical perspective on how dark matter became an integral part of modern cosmology, beyond simplified anecdotes.

Findings

Historical timeline of dark matter discovery

Key observational evidence supporting dark matter

Theoretical developments leading to acceptance

Abstract

Although dark matter is a central element of modern cosmology, the history of how it became accepted as part of the dominant paradigm is often ignored or condensed into a brief anecdotical account focused around the work of a few pioneering scientists. The aim of this review is to provide the reader with a broader historical perspective on the observational discoveries and the theoretical arguments that led the scientific community to adopt dark matter as an essential part of the standard cosmological model.