For the first time, astronomers have released a map of dark matter detailed enough to reveal the invisible framework that holds the universe together.
Astronomers have created the most detailed dark matter map ever created, revealing how this invisible matter shaped the universe and influenced the formation of stars, galaxies and planets.
An international team of experts from Durham University, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and École Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL) has used observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to uncover new insights into the mysterious substances that are invisible to the naked eye but govern the large-scale structure of the universe.
Mapping the invisible architect of the universe
Dark matter cannot be seen, absorbed, or reflected and passes through ordinary matter without warning. But that gravitational pull plays a vital role in organizing the universe.
A newly released dark matter map confirms that regions of visible matter, from galaxies to star clusters, closely match dark matter concentrations.
This connection supports the long-standing theory that dark matter first coalesced after the Big Bang, pulling in regular matter and triggering the formation of stars and galaxies.
By creating these dense regions, dark matter effectively sets the stage for Earth-like planets to form and, ultimately, life to emerge.
Record-breaking observations about space
The latest map covers part of the sky in the constellation Sextant, which is about 2.5 times the size of the full moon. Webb spent about 255 hours observing the region and created a catalog of about 800,000 galaxies, including some observed for the first time.
The researchers identified dark matter by detecting how its gravity slightly bends light from distant galaxies, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. This technique allows astronomers to “see” dark matter indirectly by observing its effect on light passing through space.
Compared to previous efforts, the new map includes 10 times more galaxies than ground-based surveys and twice as many galaxies as the Hubble Space Telescope.
It will also reveal smaller clumps of dark matter, providing unprecedented resolution of regions previously glimpsed by Hubble and providing a clearer look at the hidden scaffolding of the universe.
Web’s mid-infrared power
A key element of the map’s clarity was Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), designed and managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. MIRI will detect galaxies obscured by cosmic dust, improve distance measurements, and provide more precise mapping of both visible and dark matter.
This technological leap will allow astronomers to resolve the universe’s web of dark matter with incredible precision, revealing details that were previously blurred or invisible.
Implications for understanding the evolution of the universe
The alignment between dark matter and normal matter is no coincidence. Gravity from dark matter continually pulls ordinary matter towards dark matter, shaping the distribution of galaxies throughout the history of the universe.
Without this invisible influence, galaxies like the Milky Way might not have formed, and the planets and building blocks of life would have been lost.
This map shows that wherever there is visible matter today, there is also dark matter, quietly adjusting the structure of the universe as we observe it. Billions of dark matter particles pass by Earth every second, but they interact only through gravity, silently holding galaxies together.
Foundation for future exploration
This map will serve as a benchmark for future dark matter research. The research team plans to expand this effort using the European Space Agency’s Euclid Telescope and NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
By comparing new observations with this standard, astronomers aim to track how dark matter has evolved over cosmic time and uncover its fundamental properties.
The dark matter map created by Webb provides more than a static snapshot, it is fundamental to understanding the invisible forces that shape the universe.
Sharper resolution and more galaxies than ever before will transform our view of the universe from a blurred outline to a detailed blueprint of the invisible structures that underlie all cosmic structure.
By combining Webb’s unprecedented powers of observation with advanced analytical techniques, scientists uncovered the hidden structures that guide the formation of stars, galaxies, and planets.
This new dark matter map not only reveals the invisible, but also reshapes the way we understand the origin and evolution of the universe itself.
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