Science

Dark matter BREAKTHROUGH: New study 'validates' critical cold dark matter theory


Dark matter permeates the universe all around us even if its “dark” nature means we cannot detect it. Astrophysicists estimate about 85 percent of the universe is built from the mystery substance. Baryonic matter, or the kind from which everything we can touch and feel is built, only accounts for five percent of the universe’s mass. Dark matter does not emit or reflect electromagnetism or light but the effects of its mass are visible in galaxies across the universe.

Because of this, scientists study so-called galactic clusters – the largest objects in the universe – to see how dark matter adds to their masses.

Galactic clusters are each composed of a 1,000 massive galaxies and are packed to the brim with dark matter.

But the dark matter does not exist on its own and 20 years ago scientists speculated it is balanced alongside quantities of hot gas and “colder” stars.

An international team of researchers led by the University of Birmingham in the UK and the University of Michigan in the US claims to have now validated this theory.

READ MORE:

Based on 12 years worth of deep space observations using a wide range of telescope and satellites, the scientists have found a balance between dark matter, hot gas and stars.

The results were published today (July 2) in a paper in the journal Nature Communications.

According to the study, the sum of gas and stars within galactic clusters is a “nearly fixed fraction” of the dark matter’s mass.

This means that as stars form, the amount of available hot gas in clusters will drop at proportional rates.

READ MORE:

Dr Arya Farahi, an astrophysicist at Michigan, said: “This validates the predictions of the prevailing cold dark matter theory.

“Everything is consistent with our current understanding of the universe.”

The study sheds more light onto the mysteries of dark matter but could also uncover new clues about the expansion rates of the universe.

Dr Graham Smith of the School of Physics and Astronomy at Birmingham, said: “A certain amount of material within the universe collapses to form galaxy clusters.

READ MORE: Is dark matter leaking into our universe from ANOTHER DIMENSION?

“But once they are formed, these clusters are ‘closed boxes’.

“The hot gas has either formed stars, or still remains as gas, but the overall quantity remains constant.”

After 12 years of observations, the astrophysicists have managed to characterise a total of 41 nearby galaxy clusters.

They found a correlation in the behaviour of star mass and hot gas mass.

This, in turn, gives researchers a clearer picture of the clusters’ overall weight.

Dr Smith said: “Galaxy clusters are intrinsically fascinating, but in many ways still mysterious objects.

“Unpicking the complex astrophysics governing these objects will open many doors onto a broader understanding of the universe.

“Essentially, if we want to be able to claim that we understand how the universe works, we need to understand galaxy clusters.”



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.