History Main / OurDarkMatterIsMysterious

Perhaps owing to its hypothetical nature, in fiction, dark matter is interpreted in various ways. As a phlebotinum mainly, dark matter may be a PowerSource, ToxicPhlebotinum, something behind MinovskyPhysics, etc.

* In ''WesternAnimation/LeagueOfSuperEvil'', the most powerful dark matter in the universe is found in the shape of black licorice, of all things.

** The climax of ''Destiny Lost'' uses this to justify an UnrealisticBlackHole. [[spoiler:The Bollam's World Federation is using [[ArtificialGravity graviton generators]], which work by pulling gravitons from the dark layer, to artificially expand a brown dwarf so that it doesn't ignite normally and therefore acts as a helium-3 factory. Ships from the Hegemony of Worlds blow up the generators, which causes the planet to collapse all at once, setting off a titanic fusion explosion that compresses the lower layers below the black hole threshold. The explosion also provides energy to keep the generators' portals to the dark layer open, and the black hole begins to consume dark matter, resulting in a "dark matter black hole" that is much larger and more powerful than the object it originally formed from.]]

** The climax of ''Destiny Lost'' uses this for a {{justified}} case of UnrealisticBlackHole. [[spoiler:The Bollam's World Federation is using [[ArtificialGravity graviton generators]], which work by pulling gravitons from the dark layer, to artificially expand a brown dwarf so that it doesn't ignite normally and therefore acts as a helium-3 factory. Ships from the Hegemony of Worlds blow up the generators, which causes the planet to collapse all at once, setting off a titanic fusion explosion that compresses the lower layers below the black hole threshold. The explosion also provides energy to keep the generators' portals to the dark layer open, and the black hole begins to consume dark matter, resulting in a "dark matter black hole" that is much larger and more powerful than the object it originally formed from.]]

* An evil clone of ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutron'' once duplicated the entire planet and everyone on it, but used a "dark matter chip" to turn the whole dupe-Earth into a world of {{Card Carrying Villain}}s. After he snapped the chip in frustration, it unleashed a huge black billowy cloud that began to swallow everything around it.

-->'''Kakine''': The Dark Matter that I produce is a substance that does not exist in this world. I don't mean it hasn't been discovered, but that it should ''theoretically'' exist; I mean, it actually does not exist.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': The Number 2 Level 5's power, is called Dark Matter, and it's the ability to generate material that has its own laws of physics.

* ''ComicBook/DarkKnightsMetal'' introduces the Dark Multiverse to the DCU, a realm of dark matter and dark energy inhabited by nightmarish versions of various heroes.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', dark matter exists as an oil-like substance and also in an extremely dense solid form ([[UnitConfusion 1 pound of it weighs over 10,000 pounds]], according to Professor Farnsworth) defecated by Nibblonians, typically employed as starship fuel. The episode "The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz" revealed that the liquid form could induce hyperfertility in animals (in this case, penguins) and even induce [[MisterSeahorse egg-laying in]] ''[[MisterSeahorse males]]''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', dark matter exists as an oil-like substance and also in an extremely dense solid form ([[UnitConfusion 1 pound of it weighs over 10,000 pounds]], according to Professor Farnsworth) defecated by Nibblonians, typically employed as starship fuel. The episode "The Bird-Bot of Ice-Catraz" revealed that the liquid form could induce hyperfertility in animals (in this case, penguins) and even induce [[MisterSeahorse egg-laying in]] ''[[MisterSeahorse males]]''.

* In the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, dark matter is a powerful form of magic.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', dark matter exists as an oil-like substance and also in an extremely dense solid form ([[UnitConfusion 1 pound of it weighs over 10,000 pounds]], according to Professor Farnsworth) defecated by Nibblonians, typically employed as starship fuel. The episode "The Bird-Bot of Ice-Catraz" revealed that the liquid form could induce hyperfertility in animals (in this case, penguins) and even induce egg-laying in ''[[MisterSeahorse males]]''.

Perhaps owing to its hypothetical nature, in fiction, a dark matter is interpreted in various ways. As a phlebotinum mainly, a dark matter may be a PowerSource, ToxicPhlebotinum, something behind MinovskyPhysics, etc.

* In ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]]'' Samus's Dark Beam fires blasts of dark matter.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', dark matter exists as an oil-like substance and also in an extremely dense solid form ([[UnitConfusion 1 pound of it weighs over 10,000 pounds]], according to Professor Farnsworth) defecated by Nibblonians, typically employed as starship fuel. The episode "The Bird-Bot of Ice-Catraz" revealed that the liquid form could induce hyperfertility in animals (in this case, penguins) and even induce egg laying in ''[[MisterSeahorse males]]''.

* ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' has [[http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Reality-Stone-Aether-Thor-2-The-Dark-World.jpg Aether]], one of the six Infinity Gems. Which, despite the name, is more of a [[TimeyWimeyBall wibbly-wobbly]] ebby-flowy fluid capable of converting regular matter into dark matter. Also despite the name, it's visible to the naked eye with a sinister red glow, and is if not sapient, intelligent enough to want to protect itself.

* In ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', a throwaway line reveals the fifteen-dimensional architects who create afterlives for people drink antimatter during the workday like business people drink coffee.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': Magus' most powerful spell is of the Shadow element and called, you guessed it, Dark Matter.

* ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'' uses dark matter as its go-to AppliedPhlebotinum for SuperEmpowering. If there's a metahuman then chances are they were hit by dark matter at some point. Most notably the STAR Labs Particle Accelerator explosion was a MassSuperEmpoweringEvent that released dark matter all over Central City.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', dark matter exists as an oil-like substance and also in an extremely dense solid form ([[UnitConfusion 1 pound of it weighs over 10,000 pounds]], according to Professor Farnsworth) defecated by Nibblonians, typically employed as starship fuel. The episode "The Bird-Bot of Ice-Catraz" revealed that the liquid form could induce hyperfertility in animals (in this case, penguins) and even induce fertility in ''[[MisterSeahorse males]]''.

May be related to CastingAShadow when used as a superpower. Compare {{Technobabble}}, when writers throw together scientific terminology without regard for the words' actual definitions, and PhotoprotoneutronTorpedo, which similarly makes something science fictiony by appending the name of a real or fictional subatomic particle. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant No relation]] to the ''Series/DarkMatter'' TV series.

[[caption-width-right:350:So what the heck is it?]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[-[[https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10943 Image via NASA.]]-]]]

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