Photo credit: www.gadgets360.com
Approximately half of the universe’s matter remains unaccounted for, as it cannot solely be attributed to visible stars and galaxies. Astronomers suggest that clouds of hydrogen gas might hold the key to revealing this elusive matter. Current findings indicate that the observable aspect of this unaccounted mass, excluding dark matter, constitutes merely 15 percent of the universe’s overall mass. For an extended period, researchers have grappled with the challenge of locating nearly half of the normal matter, which resides in galaxies, stars, and other celestial structures that are visible to us.
Research and Discovery
A significant international team of scientists, spearheaded by Simone Ferraro from the University of California, Berkeley, has come to a pivotal conclusion: the hydrogen gas cloud enveloping most galaxies is far larger than previously understood. This expanded scale suggests it could potentially account for a substantial portion of the universe’s missing matter, as highlighted in a study recently published in the online pre-print journal, arXiv.
The Hunt for Missing Matter
In their investigation, the researchers employed data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). This advanced tool allowed them to compile images from nearly 7 million galaxies, enabling the measurement of faint halos of ionized hydrogen gas that exist at the edges of the galaxies—regions typically invisible with standard observational approaches. The team also analyzed residual radiation from the Big Bang that permeates the universe. Their hypothesis suggests that if these faint halos connect various galaxies, they might form a vast cosmic web, possibly explaining the previously undetected matter.
Black Holes on Duty
This breakthrough may also shift our understanding of black hole dynamics. Initially, researchers believed that black holes expelled significant quantities of gas during their early development. However, recent studies indicate that they may be more active than previously thought. Astronomer Boryana Hadzhiyska noted that one prevailing theory suggests black holes operate intermittently, turning their activity on and off in cycles.
Future Scope
Looking ahead, the focus will shift towards integrating these new measurements into existing models of the universe. Hadzhiyska remarked that numerous researchers are eager to utilize these findings for comprehensive analyses, particularly concerning the previously overlooked gas.
Source
www.gadgets360.com