Discovering Dark Matter: Simulations Reveal Mysterious Whirls Along Galaxy Arms

Imagine setting up tiny particles that mimic stars, gas, and dark matter, letting them interact over millions of years. That’s what scientists like Bernet do to understand the universe. Our lives are way too short to observe these cosmic changes firsthand, so we rely on simulations to get a glimpse beyond the present moment.

Several research teams have created galaxy simulations for various studies. Bernet’s team took a look at some of this data. They discovered a pattern: a subtle imprint of dark matter in the motion of particles. This pattern appeared across multiple simulations, suggesting it’s a common feature in galaxies.

Unlike stars, the dark matter spirals are less visible. They don’t shine brightly, but they leave a distinct mark. The dark matter trails lag behind the visible ones, almost like an invisible shadow accompanying the stars.

This new insight changes how we think about galaxy formation. Dark matter isn’t just a backdrop holding galaxies together; it actively interacts with stars in ways that might even affect star formation and the rotation of galaxies. This might help explain the recently discovered excess mass in the Milky Way’s nearby spiral arm.

Tracking these spirals in the real universe is a challenge. However, Bernet notes that we can accurately measure the density of dark matter in our Milky Way. “If we can gather enough data across the entire disk, we may find clear spiral patterns,” he says.

Brooks emphasizes the importance of these findings. “They can change where we look for dark matter signals. This might alter our understanding of dark matter’s density near our solar neighborhood, impacting future lab experiments aimed at directly detecting dark matter,” he explains.

As we dive deeper into the cosmos, our understanding of dark matter continues to evolve. While we still have much to learn, these findings mark an exciting step in unraveling the universe’s mysteries.

For more on dark matter and its role in the universe, check out the recent study published in A&A.

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