2007 Top Mysteries of Science

1. Dark Matter/Dark Energy

Okay, you know science has a problem when we can't accurately describe what 96% of the mass of the universe is made out of because it is non-visible and non-reflective. Is it neutrinos, baryonic protons and neutrons, cosmic dust, dark stars, the breath of God? No one knows. Also, about 74% of that missing mass is most likely in the form of Dark Energy, the force which may be fueling our universal expansion, or maybe it's a math glitch due to our poor understanding of the effects of gravity at a cosmic distance. Who knows? Odds that this mystery will be adequately resolved within the next 50 years: 1000 to 1.

2. The Higgs Boson

The standard model of physics by which we explain all reality is complete with the exception of one fundamental quantum particle: the Higgs Boson. The standard model predicts that this particle exists, in fact it relies on the mysterious Higgs field to generate mass for all particles in the universe. However, while we can assign all sorts of properties to this field, and infer its existence from theoretical models, there is no demonstrable proof that the Higgs boson actually exists. Because the Higgs field presumably permeates all space and time and gives rise to quantum particle mass (which allows the rest of the universe to function), the Higgs Boson has been dubbed the "God Particle". While high energy particle collisions are being studied to find this elusive Higgs boson, it is far from confirmed that it exists at all. Odds that this mystery will be resolved within the next 50 years: 5000 to 1.

3. UFOs and Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Casual witnesses claim to be abducted by aliens, groups of people see UFOs hovering over major cities, and SETI scans the sky and finds nothing. While the size of the universe dictates that intelligent life must exist on other planets around the universe, the size of the universe dictates that we will never meet them, or they will be long dead by the time their first radio signals hit Earth. UFOs and grey aliens aside, all the research in this area points to a big question mark. Are we alone? No, there are almost surely extremophile bacteria living on planets and asteroids out there in the soup. But are there other complex sentient beings out there? Who knows? Odds that this mystery will be resolved within the next 50 years: 10,000 to 1.

4. PSI

Say you have a dream about someone you haven't seen in years, and then out of the blue they call you the next day. Is this random chance or evidence of psychic powers (also known as psi)? People have claimed psychic powers such as clairvoyance, telepathy, remote viewing, and the like since the dawn of time, but scientific probes into these mysterious psi powers have been less than stunning. Even the most exciting psi studies show results that deviate from random distribution by only a few percentage points; hardly the overwhelming statistical variance you would expect from a conclusive study. However, there is that slim percentage of cases where random deviation and coincidence don't account for everything, such as mothers knowing when their children are in trouble even when separated by great distances. Can these amazing anecdotal cases of psi at a distance ever be properly confirmed in a scientific setting, or is psi just a junk term for those few cases where coincidence and good old-fashioned human intuition adds up to something that beats standard random deviation? Who knows? Odds that this mystery will be resolved within the next 50 years: 50,000 to 1.

5. Parallel Universes

Quantum indeterminacy has opened a can of worms on the whole "solid universe" idea, and have led some to theorize that subatomic particles may do double or triple duty in a variety of different universes at any one time. For instance, if a single photon is shot at a plate that reflects light 50% of the time, does the photon reflect from the plate in one universe and simultaneously stick to the plate in another universe? What happens to the other universes when the quantum potential collapses, do they also collapse, or do they continue on along an alternate quantum path? Who knows? Odds that this mystery will be resolved within the next 50 years: 100,000 to 1.

6. Origins of Life

Looking strictly and elementary particles and the laws of electromagnetism, it seems inevitable that carbons and hydrogens and oxygens would eventually form together into complex strings as the universe cooled. But why are these complex strings of molecules then driven to reproduce themselves generation after generation? From viruses to humans, all life forms seek to reproduce their genetic code. Why is that? Is it intelligent design? Random chance? Morphogenetic fields? Who knows? Odds that this mystery will be resolved within the next 50 years: 500,000 to 1.

7. Does God Exist?

Was the universe intentionally created, or is it all a grand happenstance? If God exists does his power get weaker as it distributes across the expanding universe, or does he defy physical laws and remain all powerful across time and space? While most rational arguments discount the existence of an eternal all-powerful force that molds that shape and structure of reality, the majority of humans still believe in a benevolent creator that watches over us all. Even if science can demonstrate that God has no hand in the doings of reality, believers can claim that God is merely sleeping, or that he purposely stays out of science experiments and games of chance to keep things interesting around here. What the argument essentially boils down to is that God either does not exist or he is mysterious, wacky, and inscrutable. Odds that this mystery will be resolved within the next 50 years: Astronomical.

Got any other mysteries of science to share? Then post them!