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Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'We Finally Found It': Scientists Reveal the Missing Half of the Universe's Matter Was Hiding in Plain Sight All Along
IN A NUTSHELL ✨ Scientists have discovered the universe's missing baryonic matter, solving a decades-long cosmic mystery. have discovered the universe's missing baryonic matter, solving a decades-long cosmic mystery. 🔭 The missing matter was found in the intergalactic medium , a vast network of hot, diffuse gas between galaxies. , a vast network of hot, diffuse gas between galaxies. 📡 Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) were instrumental in detecting this elusive matter through their interaction with free electrons in space. (FRBs) were instrumental in detecting this elusive matter through their interaction with free electrons in space. 🌌 This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of galaxies and the universe's cosmic web structure. The universe has long held a tantalizing mystery: the whereabouts of its missing 'normal' matter, known as baryonic matter. Unlike the elusive dark matter, baryonic matter consists of the tangible materials that build stars, planets, and even ourselves. For decades, cosmological models suggested a certain amount of this matter should exist, yet observable data accounted for only half. Now, through sophisticated observational techniques using fleeting light signals from the universe's edge, researchers believe they have cracked the case. Astonishingly, the missing matter was right between the galaxies all along. The Mystery of Vanishing Baryonic Matter In the realm of cosmic mysteries, the enigma of missing baryonic matter stood apart. This isn't about dark matter, the shadowy substance that doesn't interact with light. Rather, it's about the baryonic matter, the familiar atoms, protons, and neutrons that form the tangible universe. Modern cosmological equations, especially those derived from studying the cosmic microwave background, estimate the universe's total baryonic matter. Yet, astronomers could only trace about half of it, scattered across stars, galactic gas, and clusters. The rest seemed to have vanished into the cosmic void. This conundrum baffled scientists, leading to theories about where this missing matter might reside. The prevailing hypothesis was that it lingered in the vast expanses between galaxies, an area known as the intergalactic medium. However, this matter was elusive, detectable neither by optical nor infrared telescopes. It called for an unconventional method of discovery, one that turned to celestial phenomena as unlikely allies. 'Thousands of Giant Eggs Found': Underwater Volcano Unleashes Terrifying Discovery That Has Marine Scientists in Total Shock The Intergalactic Medium: A Long-Suspected Culprit For years, scientists suspected that the missing baryonic matter resided in the intergalactic medium (IGM), a sprawling network of hot, diffuse gas that forms the cosmic web connecting galaxies. However, detecting this matter proved challenging. The gas was so thinly spread that it eluded optical, infrared, and X-ray telescopes. Scientists needed an indirect method to reveal its presence, and that's where the enigmatic fast radio bursts (FRBs) entered the picture. FRBs are brief but intense radio wave bursts originating from distant galaxies. Despite their fleeting nature—lasting only milliseconds—their energy output rivals the Sun's over several days. As these signals traverse the universe, they interact with free electrons, causing a delay that can be measured. This delay acts like a cosmic sonar, allowing scientists to infer the amount of baryonic matter the signal has passed through, shedding light on the elusive IGM. 'A New Monster From the Abyss': Scientists Stunned as Unknown Deep-Sea Predator Emerges From Earth's Darkest Depths Cosmic Flashes: Scanning the Universe with FRBs First discovered in 2007, fast radio bursts (FRBs) have become invaluable tools for astronomers. These intense radio wave flashes, originating from galaxies millions to billions of light-years away, are brief yet powerful. In just milliseconds, an FRB can release as much energy as the Sun does in several days. Their brevity and energy make them excellent cosmic probes. As FRBs travel across the universe, their signals become dispersed by free electrons encountered along their path. By measuring this dispersion, scientists can calculate the amount of baryonic matter the signal has intersected. This innovative approach effectively uses FRBs as a cosmic radar, mapping the unseen baryonic matter and confirming its presence in the intergalactic medium. This breakthrough reveals a previously hidden aspect of the universe, offering new insights into cosmic structure. 'NASA Sounds the Alarm': Sudden Planet-Wide Disturbance Linked to Mysterious Subterranean Energy Surge Now Spreading Without Warning A Pivotal Observation Campaign Recently, an international research team, led by astrophysicists from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Caltech, analyzed 60 FRBs detected by cutting-edge radio telescopes. These bursts originated from a range of distances, from 11 million to over 9 billion light-years away. By examining their signals, scientists reconstructed the baryonic matter distribution across vast cosmic expanses. The findings were striking: approximately 76% of all baryonic matter resides in the intergalactic medium, as hot, diffuse gas. The rest is distributed among galaxy halos (about 15%) and dense regions like stars or cold clouds. This discovery not only solves a long-standing cosmic puzzle but also provides a clearer understanding of galaxy evolution. It suggests that supernova explosions and supermassive black holes eject significant gas amounts into the IGM, influencing galaxy formation and star production. The groundbreaking discovery of the universe's missing baryonic matter in the intergalactic medium marks a new era in cosmology. It confirms long-held theories and opens new avenues for exploration. As we harness the power of fast radio bursts and next-generation observatories, our understanding of the universe will deepen, unveiling more of its secrets. How will these findings reshape our comprehension of cosmic evolution and the universe's intricate web of matter? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (28)
Sustainability Times
22-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'They Found the Missing Matter': Cosmic Radio Bursts Used to Map Long-Lost Atoms Hiding Across the Universe for Billions of Years
IN A NUTSHELL ✨ In a revolutionary breakthrough, astronomers used fast radio bursts to trace missing ordinary matter in the universe. to trace missing ordinary matter in the universe. 🔭 The study confirmed that approximately 76% of ordinary matter is dispersed in the intergalactic medium . . 🌌 Localization of FRBs is crucial for accurately mapping the matter they encounter across billions of light-years. is crucial for accurately mapping the matter they encounter across billions of light-years. 🔬 The findings could unlock new insights into neutrino mass and challenge existing physics models. The universe has long been a source of fascination and mystery for scientists and enthusiasts alike. Among its many enigmas was the elusive nature of ordinary matter, which forms the very fabric of stars, planets, and life itself. For decades, nearly half of this ordinary matter seemed to be missing, hidden away in the vast expanses of space. However, recent breakthroughs have finally shed light on this cosmic puzzle, thanks to the discovery and analysis of fast radio bursts (FRBs). These fleeting yet powerful radio waves have become the key to mapping the universe's missing matter. Understanding Fast Radio Bursts Fast Radio Bursts are brief, intense flashes of radio waves that originate from distant galaxies. Lasting only a few milliseconds, these cosmic signals are powerful enough to travel across billions of light-years. As they journey through the universe, they pass through clouds of ionized gas, slowing down slightly based on the amount of matter encountered. This process, known as dispersion, allows scientists to calculate the mass of invisible matter along the FRB's path. In a groundbreaking study, astronomers from Caltech and the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian harnessed the power of 69 well-localized FRBs to reveal the distribution of ordinary matter across the universe. One of these FRBs, FRB 20230521B, hails from an astonishing 9.1 billion light-years away, making it the most distant FRB ever recorded. The study's findings confirm that about 76% of ordinary matter resides in the intergalactic medium, a diffuse stretch of space between galaxies. 'Water Found Beyond Earth': Scientists Confirm It Formed Moments After the Big Bang in a Stunning Cosmic Revelation Mapping the Invisible Universe To accurately trace the origins of FRBs and map the ordinary matter they illuminate, localization is essential. Only about a hundred of the over a thousand detected FRBs have been successfully traced back to their host galaxies. This localization is crucial for determining the FRB's distance, which is necessary for mapping the matter it encountered. Of the 69 FRBs analyzed in the study, 39 were discovered using the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA)-110, a sophisticated network of 110 radio antennas in California. The remaining FRBs were detected by global observatories such as Australia's Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. Instruments at Hawaii's W. M. Keck Observatory and the Palomar Observatory near San Diego played a pivotal role in determining the distance to each FRB's host galaxy. These collaborative efforts have painted a comprehensive picture of the universe's ordinary matter distribution. 'They're Coming From Space!': Mysterious Radio Signals Repeating Every 2 Hours Identified in That Distant Star System The Role of Ghost Particles The study's revelations align with predictions from advanced cosmological simulations, offering the first observational confirmation of the universe's matter distribution. This breakthrough opens new avenues for exploring fundamental physics, such as the mass of neutrinos—subatomic particles once thought to be massless. Real-world observations now suggest that neutrinos do possess mass, challenging the standard model of particle physics. According to Vikram Ravi, assistant professor of astronomy at Caltech, the role of FRBs in cosmology is just beginning. A new project, Caltech's DSA-2000 radio telescope, is poised to localize up to 10,000 FRBs annually, further expanding their potential to probe the universe's structure and offer insights into phenomena beyond current scientific understanding. 'Super-Earth Could Host Life': Stunning New Planet Found in Habitable Zone Ignites Hopes of a Second Earth Beyond Our Solar System Implications for Cosmology and Beyond The findings from this study, published in Nature Astronomy, mark a significant milestone in our understanding of the cosmos. They highlight the potential of FRBs as tools for exploring not only the distribution of ordinary matter but also the fundamental forces that shape our universe. This research was generously funded by the National Science Foundation, underscoring the importance of continued investment in scientific exploration. The implications of this work extend beyond mapping the universe. By better understanding the role and distribution of ordinary matter, we gain insights into the universe's formation, evolution, and ultimate fate. This knowledge may also inform future explorations of dark matter and dark energy, two of the universe's most profound mysteries. As we continue to unravel the secrets of the universe, the discovery of FRBs as a tool for mapping ordinary matter opens exciting possibilities. What other cosmic phenomena might we uncover, and how will these discoveries shape our understanding of the universe and our place within it? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (20)
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What Astronomers Just Discovered Between Galaxies Changes Everything
For decades, scientists have known that a massive chunk of the universe's ordinary matter was missing. Not dark matter, the elusive substance that doesn't interact with light, but regular, everyday matter made of atoms. And now, thanks to a brilliant use of cosmic radio signals, that mystery may finally be solved. In a new study published in Nature Astronomy, astronomers used fast radio bursts (FRBs)—brief, millisecond-long blasts of energy from deep space—to detect where all that missing matter was hiding: in the vast stretches between galaxies, known as the intergalactic medium. These FRBs are powerful. Though short-lived, they emit as much energy in one burst as the sun does in 30 years. When they pass through space, they act like cosmic flashlights, lighting up the otherwise invisible gas that floats between galaxies. The team measured how the light from 69 FRBs slowed as it moved through this matter, allowing them to "weigh" the fog they passed through. "It's like we're seeing the shadow of all the baryons," explained Caltech assistant professor Vikram Ravi, using the scientific term for this ordinary matter. "With FRBs as the backlight, we now know roughly where the rest of the matter in the universe is hiding." The results show about 76 percent of the universe's baryonic matter exists in this intergalactic fog. Meanwhile, 15 percent of the baryonic matter surrounds galaxies in halos and just 9 percent resides inside the galaxies themselves. This breakthrough was made possible by telescopes like Caltech's Deep Synoptic Array and Australia's Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, which helped localize the FRBs' origins. Caltech's upcoming DSA-2000 radio telescope, set to detect 10,000 FRBs per year, could be the key to even deeper cosmological insights. For astronomers, it's a milestone moment—one that brings us closer to understanding not just where we come from, but how the universe is truly structured. What Astronomers Just Discovered Between Galaxies Changes Everything first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 17, 2025
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious deep-space radio signals reveal location of the universe's 'missing matter'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Roughly half of all the regular matter in the universe has been unaccounted for — until now. In a new study, researchers claim that, using short, extragalactic flashes called fast radio bursts (FRBs), they have accounted for all the baryonic matter — the "normal" matter that makes up stars, planets, and other objects that interact with light — that we expect to find in the universe. Much of the "missing" matter is spread thinly through the space between galaxies, according to the study, which was published June 16 in the journal Nature Astronomy. Baryonic matter, which is composed of particles like protons and neutrons, makes up just 5% of the universe. Another 27% is invisible dark matter, and the rest is mysterious dark energy that drives the universe's accelerating expansion. But scientists have been able to observe only about half as much baryonic matter as they expect to have been produced during the Big Bang. To account for the remaining matter, the researchers looked to 69 FRBs to light up the intergalactic space that lies between the bursts and Earth. No one knows what causes FRBs, but most of the powerful, millisecond-long radio flashes originate outside the Milky Way. "The FRBs shine through the fog of the intergalactic medium, and by precisely measuring how the light slows down, we can weigh that fog, even when it's too faint to see," study co-author Liam Connor, an astronomer at Harvard University, said in a statement. Related: Earth's upper atmosphere could hold a missing piece of the universe, new study hints Using this technique, Connor and his colleagues found that about 76% of regular matter in the universe lies in the intergalactic medium, the hot gas that fills the space between galaxies. Another 15% or so can be found in galaxy halos — the hot, spherical regions at the edges of galaxies. The remaining baryonic matter makes up the stars, planets and cold gases inside galaxies themselves, the team proposed. "It's like we're seeing the shadow of all the baryons, with FRBs as the backlight," study co-author Vikram Ravi, an astronomer at Caltech, said in the statement. "If you see a person in front of you, you can find out a lot about them. But if you just see their shadow, you still know that they're there and roughly how big they are." The findings observationally account for all baryonic matter in the universe for the first time, pinpointing not just whether this matter exists but also where it is concentrated in the universe. RELATED STORIES —Where do fast radio bursts come from? Astronomers tie mysterious eruptions to massive galaxies. —Fast radio burst traced to the outskirts of an ancient 'graveyard' galaxy — and the cause remains a mystery —Ghostly galaxy without dark matter baffles astronomers "I would say that the missing baryons problem is essentially solved," Nicolás Tejos, an astronomer at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso who was not involved in the study, told Science magazine. "Thanks to FRBs, we have now been able to close this baryon budget." In future studies, the team hopes to leverage the Deep Synoptic Array-2000, a proposed network of 2,000 radio telescopes that will scan the entire sky over five years, to pinpoint up to 10,000 new FRBs per year and investigate the universe's baryonic matter in even more detail.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists find universe's missing matter while watching fast radio bursts shine through 'cosmic fog'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Half of the universe's ordinary matter was missing — until now. Astronomers have used mysterious but powerful explosions of energy called fast radio bursts (FRBs) to detect the universe's missing "normal" matter for the first time. This previously missing stuff isn't dark matter, the mysterious substance that accounts for around 85% of the material universe but remains invisible because it doesn't interact with light. Instead, it is ordinary matter made out of atoms (composed of baryons) that does interact with light but has until now just been too dark to see. Though this puzzle might not quite get as much attention as the dark matter conundrum — at least we knew what this missing matter is, while the nature of dark matter is unknown — but its AWOL status has been a frustrating problem in cosmology nonetheless. The missing baryonic matter problem has persisted because it is spread incredibly thinly through halos that surround galaxies and in diffuse clouds that drift in the space between galaxies. Now, a team of astronomers discovered and accounted for this missing everyday matter by using FRBs to illuminate wispy structures lying between us and the distant sources of these brief but powerful bursts of radio waves. "The FRBs shine through the fog of the intergalactic medium, and by precisely measuring how the light slows down, we can weigh that fog, even when it's too faint to see," study team leader Liam Connor, a researcher at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), said in a statement. FRBs are pulses of radio waves that often last for mere milliseconds, but in this brief time they can emit as much energy as the sun radiates in 30 years. Their origins remain something of a mystery. That's because the short duration of these flashes and the fact that most occur only once make them notoriously hard to trace back to their source. Yet for some time, their potential to help "weigh" the matter between galaxies has been evident to astronomers. Though thousands of FRBs have been discovered, not all were suitable for this purpose. That's because, to act as a gauge of the matter between the FRB and Earth, the energy burst has to have a localized point of origin with a known distance from our planet. Thus far, astronomers have only managed to perform this localization for about 100 FRBs. Connor and colleagues, including California Institute of Technology (Caltech) assistant professor Vikram Ravi, utilized 69 FRBs from sources at distances of between 11.7 million to about 9.1 billion light-years away. The FRB from this maximum distance, FRB 20230521B, is the most distant FRB source ever discovered. Of the 69 FRBs used by the team, 39 were discovered by a network of 110 radio telescopes located at Caltech's Owen Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) called the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA). The DSA was built with the specific mission of spotting and localizing FRBs to their home galaxies. Once this had been done, instruments at Hawaii's W. M. Keck Observatory and at the Palomar Observatory near San Diego were used the measure the distance between Earth and these FRB-source galaxies. Many of the remaining FRBs were discovered by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), a network of radio telescopes in Western Australia that has excelled in the detection and localization of FRBs since it began operations. As FRBs pass through matter, the light that comprises them is split into different wavelengths. This is just like what happens when sunlight passes through a prism and creates a rainbow diffraction pattern. The angle of the separation of these different wavelengths can be used to determine how much matter lies in the clouds or structures that the FRBs pass through. "It's like we're seeing the shadow of all the baryons, with FRBs as the backlight," Ravi explained. "If you see a person in front of you, you can find out a lot about them. But if you just see their shadow, you still know that they're there and roughly how big they are." The team's results allowed them to determine that approximately 76% of the universe's normal matter lurks in the space between galaxies, known as the intergalactic medium. They found a further 15% is locked up in the vast diffuse haloes around galaxies. The remaining 9% seems to be concentrated within the galaxies, taking the form of stars and cold galactic gas. The distribution calculated by the team is in agreement with predictions delivered by advanced simulations of the universe and its evolution, but it represents the first observational evidence of this. Related Stories: — What are fast radio bursts? — Mysterious fast radio burst traced back to massive 'cosmic graveyard' of ancient stars — Mysterious fast radio bursts could be caused by asteroids slamming into dead stars The team's results could lead to a better understanding of how galaxies grow. For Ravi, however, this is just the first step toward FRBs becoming a vital tool in cosmology, aiding our understanding of the universe. The next step in this development may well be Caltech's planned radio telescope, DSA-2000. This radio array, set to be constructed in the Nevada desert, could spot and localize as many as 10,000 FRBs every year. This should both boost our understanding of these powerful blasts of radio waves and increase their usefulness as probes of the universe's baryonic matter content. The team's research was published on Monday (June 16) in the journal Nature Astronomy.
