# How Dark Matter Came to Matter

## TL;DR

This paper explores the historical development of the dark matter problem, emphasizing the social and methodological factors that contributed to its recognition in cosmology from the 1930s to the 1970s.

## Contribution

It offers a historical and sociological analysis of how dark matter became a central issue in cosmology, beyond just accumulating scientific evidence.

## Key findings

- The recognition of dark matter was influenced by broader shifts in cosmological research.
- Changes in the scientific community's structure played a role in the problem's prominence.
- The story sheds light on the methodological practices in physics and cosmology.

## Abstract

The history of the dark matter problem can be traced back to at least the 1930s, but it was not until the early 1970s that the issue of 'missing matter' was widely recognized as problematic. In the latter period, previously separate issues involving missing mass were brought together in a single anomaly. We argue that reference to a straightforward 'accumulation of evidence' alone is inadequate to comprehend this episode. Rather, the rise of cosmological research, the accompanying renewed interest in the theory of relativity and changes in the manpower division of astronomy in the 1960s are key to understanding how dark matter came to matter. At the same time, this story may also enlighten us on the methodological dimensions of past practices of physics and cosmology.