A researcher at the University of Tokyo claims to have observed a portion of the invisible universe that makes up 95% of the cosmos. The unseen components include dark energy, constituting about 68% of the universe and responsible for its accelerated expansion, and dark matter, accounting for the remaining 27% and preventing galaxies from dispersing.
The existence of dark matter was originally theorized by astronomer Fritz Zwicky in 1933 to explain the cohesion of galaxies within clusters. Vera Rubin later proposed dark matter in the 1970s to account for the gravitational forces holding spiral galaxies together. While dark matter and dark energy remain invisible, their presence is inferred through their interactions with objects like galaxies.
Astronomers have long sought ways to detect dark matter, and now, astronomer Tomonori Totani from the University of Tokyo claims to have captured an image of dark matter using data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. This discovery, detailed in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, involves gamma rays rather than visible light.
The elusive nature of dark matter has led to various theories, with one suggesting it consists of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) that collide and release energy in the form of gamma rays. Totani’s recent work focuses on gamma rays emitted from the Milky Way’s center, derived from Fermi data indicating a potential contribution from dark matter.
However, some experts, including cosmologist Renée Hložek, caution that the analysis supporting Totani’s findings may not be conclusive. Hložek highlights the need for a more comprehensive assessment, considering the complexities of galactic noise and foreground astrophysical factors. While Totani stands by his work, he acknowledges the necessity for further scrutiny and verification from the scientific community.