The mixed gravity of all of the common and darkish matter trapped contained in the cluster proven right here warps space-time. It additionally impacts mild touring by the cluster towards Earth, distorting photos of the distant galaxies behind the cluster.
NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz and the HFF Workforce (STScI)
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NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz and the HFF Workforce (STScI)
The mixed gravity of all of the common and darkish matter trapped contained in the cluster proven right here warps space-time. It additionally impacts mild touring by the cluster towards Earth, distorting photos of the distant galaxies behind the cluster.
NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz and the HFF Workforce (STScI)
Physics has a little bit of a messy downside: There’s matter lacking in our universe.
One thing is there that we won’t see, however scientists can detect.
“Once we take a look at how stars transfer in galaxies, they transfer as if there may be lots of matter there that we won’t see,” says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical particle physicist on the College of New Hampshire.
This lacking matter is usually known as known as darkish matter. It makes up over 1 / 4 of the matter within the universe.
Scientists do not know what it’s.
But scientists do know that no matter this matter is has to have just a few key elements:
- It might probably’t work together with mild, which means it must be basically clear or invisible.
- It ought to transfer comparatively slowly. That is as a result of, if it moved shortly, it would not clump collectively beneath gravity and assist kind galaxies.
So what might this mysterious substance be? Some researchers like Prescod-Weinstein assume a hypothetical particle known as the axion might assist make the darkish matter downside slightly … tidier.
That is proper: hypothetical. That means scientists have by no means seen one, and do not know in the event that they exist. But when they’re detected at some point, scientists assume they could possibly be the reply to this longstanding thriller.
Fascinated by the mysteries of our universe? Electronic mail us at shortwave@npr.org to tell us which thriller we should always cowl subsequent.
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This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson, edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checked by Tyler Jones. Robert Rodriguez was the audio engineer.
