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Curious signal hints at dark matter

A team of scientists from the University of Leicester has detected a curious signal in the X-ray sky that could be the first direct indication of dark matter. The signal appears to be consistent with the prediction of axions, particles believed to make up a significant portion of the universe's mass.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 16, 2014

Reinterpreting dark matter

A team of researchers, led by Tom Broadhurst, has reinterpreted cold dark matter as a Bose-Einstein condensate, proposing that it governs the formation of the universe's structure. The theory predicts galaxies formed relatively late and could explain puzzling cores in dwarf galaxies.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 17, 2014

Reinterpreting dark matter

New research opens up possibility that dark matter governs structure across whole universe, resolving puzzles in galaxy cores and formation timing. The theory suggests large stationary waves of dark matter called solitons could explain observed phenomena.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 2, 2014

Nearby satellite galaxies don't fit standard model

Recent study finds satellite dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way and Andromeda do not behave as predicted by the standard model of galaxy formation. The galaxies are instead found in huge disks, moving in the same direction, like planets in our solar system. This mismatch raises concerns about the accuracy of the standard model of cosmology.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 11, 2014

Failed dwarf galaxy survives galactic collision thanks to full dark-matter jacket

Researchers believe a high-velocity hydrogen cloud, known as the Smith Cloud, contains and is wrapped in a substantial halo of dark matter, allowing it to survive a collision with the Milky Way. The discovery could provide insights into the formation of galaxies and the earliest star formation in our galaxy.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 23, 2014

Nearest bright 'hypervelocity star' found

Astronomers have found the closest, second-brightest hypervelocity star, speeding at 1 million mph. The star probes the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center and the halo of mysterious dark matter, providing insights into the galaxy's structure.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 6, 2014

Searching high and low for dark matter

Researchers have made significant advancements in sensitivity and believe a dark matter particle interacts with ordinary matter rarely, according to conference discussions. The hunt for dark matter continues, with the LHC yet to find evidence of supersymmetry, but potential discovery could reveal dominant form of universe-seeding matter.

Announcing project agora: Ambitious comparison of computer simulations of galaxy evolution

The AGORA project aims to resolve inconsistencies in supercomputer simulations of galaxy evolution by comparing results from different codes and processes. By applying the principle of reproducibility, researchers hope to identify key physics ingredients that produce realistic galaxies.

'Dark core' may not be so dark after all

Astronomers have found that a merging galaxy cluster's 'dark core' does not appear to be over-dense in dark matter. The study uses improved Hubble camera capabilities to map the cluster's dark matter distribution, with a ratio of 2.5 to 1 of dark matter to normal matter, aligning with expectations.

SourceOhio University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 29, 2012

Plenty of dark matter near the Sun

A new technique has revealed a significant amount of dark matter near the Sun, contradicting previous studies that found less. The researchers used a simulation of the Milky Way to test their method and obtained a high measure of local dark matter density.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 9, 2012