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Dark matter formed when fast particles slowed down and got heavy, new theory says

Researchers at Dartmouth College propose a new theory on the origin of dark matter, suggesting it could have formed from high-energy massless particles that rapidly condensed into cold, heavy particles. The theory can be tested using existing observational data, including the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 14, 2025

Euclid discovers a stunning Einstein ring

The Euclid space telescope has discovered a stunning Einstein ring in the galaxy NGC 6505, showcasing rare gravitational lensing effects. This remarkable finding demonstrates the power of Euclid's high-resolution instruments and provides new insights into the expansion of the Universe.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateFeb 10, 2025

Singapore joins Worldwide Scientific Network, GNOME, to unearth dark matter and exotic particles

Singapore has joined the Global Network of Optical Magnetometers (GNOME) to search for signals of dark matter and exotic astrophysical fields. The Singapore station, hosted at A*STAR, will use advanced quantum sensors and machine learning algorithms to analyze magnetic field signals and potentially uncover dark matter's presence.

Getting the most out of cosmic maps

Researchers have developed a new approach to analyzing cosmic maps, known as field-level inference, which preserves the fidelity of the data and can improve the determination of cosmological parameters by a factor of 3.5 to 5.2 compared to standard methods.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 20, 2025

NTU Singapore-led discovery poised to help detect dark matter and pave the way to unravel the universe’s secrets

Researchers from NTU Singapore have developed a new crystal structure that shows naturally existing particles can behave like axions, promising to detect dark matter. The findings could lay the groundwork for understanding cosmic phenomena and uncovering the universe's greatest mysteries.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2025

Primordial naked singularities: Nature’s quantum gravity laboratories pervading the universe?

Researchers suggest that gravitational collapse in the early universe could give rise to incredibly dense point-like objects, namely visible or naked singularities. This ultra-strong gravity condition provides a unique opportunity to probe new fundamental aspects of physics, including quantum gravity. The possibility of PNaSs accountin...

SourceTata Institute of Fundamental Research·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·DateJan 9, 2025

Evidence of primordial black holes may be hiding in planets, or even everyday objects here on Earth

Researchers propose that small black holes born in the early universe could have left behind hollow planetoids and microscopic tunnels, potentially detectable with telescopes or by monitoring old materials. The study suggests a low probability of primordial black hole passage but emphasizes the potential for discovery.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPhysics of the Dark Universe·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 2, 2024

Shrouded in axions

Researchers from the Universiteit van Amsterdam and other institutions show that axion clouds around neutron stars could provide a new way to observe these elusive particles. The formation and properties of these clouds are studied, offering new opportunities for axion research and potentially solving the dark matter puzzle.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 18, 2024

Glimmers of antimatter to explain the "dark" part of the universe

A recent study suggests that the observation of antihelium nuclei in cosmic rays may be consistent with the existence of WIMP particles, which could make up dark matter. The detection of two distinct isotopes, antihelium-3 and -4, is particularly intriguing as heavier nuclei are unlikely to be produced through natural processes.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 4, 2024

How special is the Milky Way Galaxy?

The SAGA Survey has found that the Milky Way Galaxy appears to be an outlier in terms of its satellite galaxies, having acquired only two large satellites recently compared to other systems. The survey also explores the mechanisms that would stop star formation in these small galaxies, finding that environmental factors play a role.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateSep 25, 2024

A galactic conspiracy disproven

An international team of astronomers has disproven a 'conspiracy' that stars and dark matter interact in inexplicable ways. By using advanced modeling techniques, they found that the similarity in galaxy density is due to how astronomers measured and modeled galaxies, rather than an actual interaction between stars and dark matter.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2024

Galaxies in dense environments tend to be larger, settling one cosmic question and raising others

A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal has found that galaxies in denser environments are up to 25% larger than isolated galaxies. Researchers used a machine learning tool to analyze millions of galaxies and found a clear trend: galaxies with more neighbors are also on average larger.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 14, 2024

A camera trap for the invisible

A new AI-powered image recognition technique could help scientists detect dark matter at the LHC by flagging fleeting tracks before collisions occur. The technique, developed by Ashutosh Kotwal and his team, processes images in under 250 nanoseconds and weeds out uninteresting data points.

SourceDuke University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 29, 2024

Dark matter seen through a forest

Researchers used hydrogen to track dark matter's presence in the universe, revealing a tension between observations and theoretical predictions. The findings suggest that an unknown particle or new physics may be responsible for this discrepancy.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 24, 2024

Astrophysicists uncover supermassive blackhole/dark matter connection in solving the ‘final parsec problem’

Researchers found that pairs of supermassive black holes can merge due to previously overlooked behavior of dark matter particles, proposing a solution to the longstanding final parsec problem. This discovery provides insight into the nature of dark matter and its interaction with supermassive black holes.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 22, 2024

NASA’s Hubble traces dark matter in dwarf galaxy using stellar motions

A team of astronomers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to create the most accurate three-dimensional understanding of stars' movements within the Draco dwarf galaxy. This allowed them to build a more precise model of dark matter distribution, which aligns with cosmological models and suggests a cusp-like structure.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJul 11, 2024

A million light years and still going

Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have discovered that the rotation curves of galaxies remain flat for millions of light years, defying expectations and challenging traditional understanding of cosmology. This finding suggests that dark matter may not exist or that alternative gravity theories could explain this phenomenon.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 17, 2024