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Cosmic clues reveal where the universe’s missing matter was hiding
- Scientists have finally located the missing ordinary matter in the universe, which makes up stars, planets, and people.
- Through a study by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and Caltech, it was found that over three-quarters of the universe's ordinary matter is in the intergalactic medium (IGM), the thin hot gas between galaxies.
- Fast radio bursts (FRBs) were key to this discovery as they slowed down based on the amount of gas they passed through, helping track the missing matter.
- The team analyzed 60 FRBs, some from extremely distant galaxies, to map the distribution of matter in the universe.
- Lead author Liam Connor noted that the missing matter was always present but its location was unknown until now.
- 76% of the universe's baryonic matter was found in the IGM, while 15% resides in halos around galaxies and a small fraction is inside galaxies.
- This confirmation aligns with computer models and offers insights into galaxy formation and evolution.
- The movement of matter in and out of galaxies influences the universe's structure, akin to a cosmic thermostat.
- Upcoming powerful radio telescopes like Caltech's DSA-2000 and Canada's CHORD will enable the discovery of more FRBs, enhancing our understanding of the cosmos.
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