Dark matter has been controversial for many physicists. Some find evidence for it while others set it aside. The controversy would possibly end soon, though, as there is theoretical evidence coming out which might confirm its existence. Two massive holes are said to have been found in a star system outside our Milky Way which might point to dark matter.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have found the two large holes while studying a group of stars. The dark matter that made the holes are said to be between one million to 100 million times the mass of our Sun. This concentration of dark matter is said to be the some of the smallest found so far.
By studying these incidents, scientists could get an idea as to what makes up dark matter. What makes dark matter hard to study is that it has not actually been seen yet. Most of the data concerning it are gathered through inference, usually on how objects around it react.
Dark matter could be seen as a building block of the universe. Currently, this is the viewpoint of some researchers. Dark matter may also be what is holding many galaxies together and not causing star systems to break apart in space, as the Daily Mail notes.
"If dark matter can exist in clumps smaller than the smallest dwarf galaxy, then it also tells us something about the nature of the particles which dark matter is made of, namely that it must be made of very massive particles," said Dr. Vasily Belokurov, one of the co-authors of the research.
Much of what is known as dark matter are unused ones for the building of the universe. Many of these small clumps of dark matter could be around our own galaxy. Areas that have dark matter are said to have no stars, gases or dust.
In studying dark matter, researchers at the University of Cambridge looked at stellar streams. These are remnants of smaller galaxies or globular clusters once around the Milky Way. The stellar streams were all that remained of these satellite clusters after the Milky Way ripped them apart.
The researchers focused on the stellar streams located on Palomar 5 and noted that they had gaps of different widths. After many simulations, they have concluded that most dark matter has most likely passed through them.
Dr. Dennis Erkal, lead author of the study, said that while dark matter has not been seen so far, it is everywhere. More research would have to be made to let people know what dark matter is. It is an issue in Astronomy and Physics that would remain controversial in the years to come. Until definitive evidence emerges that would prove or disprove it, at least.
There is much about dark matter that needs to be known, and iTechPost reports that white dwarfs might be key in its research.
