How Dark Matter Might Transform Planets into Tiny Black Holes: Exploring the Cosmic Possibilities

Giant planets beyond our Solar System might hold the key to understanding dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up about 85% of the matter in the universe. A recent study suggests that dark matter could gather in the cores of these massive worlds, merging into tiny black holes over time.

According to astrophysicist Mehrdad Phoroutan-Mehr from the University of California, Riverside, if dark matter particles are heavy and don’t annihilate each other, they could collapse into small black holes. “This black hole could grow and eventually swallow the entire planet,” he explains.

Dark matter’s existence is inferred from gravitational effects, but we haven’t detected it directly yet. Scientists are working to figure out its properties to develop better detection methods. The interplay between normal matter and dark matter in planets could reveal new insights into their behaviors. Phoroutan-Mehr and his colleague Tara Fetherolf suggest that heavy dark matter can be captured by giant exoplanets, lose energy, and concentrate in their cores, leading to black hole formation.

Research shows that gaseous exoplanets of various sizes and temperatures might witness these black holes forming at observable rates. In fact, a single exoplanet could potentially create multiple black holes over its lifetime. This finding raises a tantalizing discovery: exoplanet surveys could help locate regions rich in dark matter, particularly around our Milky Way’s center.

However, spotting these planet-mass black holes is challenging; current technology might not be sensitive enough. For instance, a black hole the size of Jupiter would only measure about 5.6 meters (or 18.4 feet) across. Still, ongoing advancements in space observation tools might improve our chances of detecting them in the future.

If astronomers were to find many planet-sized black holes, it could offer strong support for the theory of superheavy dark matter. As more data is gathered, exoplanets might provide vital clues to understanding dark matter. The findings were published in Physical Review D.

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