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Galaxies may be anchored to giant " black star topology " — chunk of inconspicuous topic sitting at their cores , new research intimate .

Although astronomers have an abundance of evidence that most of the mass in any given galaxy is inconspicuous , they do not yet know the identity of this " non-white thing . " In recent decade , the most promising theory has been that dark matter is made of some form of heavy particle that rarely , if ever , interacts with sparkle or other subject . But this hypothesis skin to excuse the comparatively low densities of galaxy inwardness , because simulation of dark matter ’s behaviour predict that it should easily bundle up to extremely high concentration , which does not twin observations .

This illustration shows Earth surrounded by filaments of dark matter called "hairs"

An illustration of “hairy” dark matter around Earth. A new study proposes that clumps of dark matter might form huge, invisible stars at the centers of galaxies like ours.

One potential answer to this problem is that the dark matter particles are implausibly wanton — billions of clip less massive thanthe neutrino , the light subatomic particle presently known . dub " fuzzy " dark issue , these hypothetical molecule are so light that their quantum - wave nature manifests on larger , macroscopic — even astronomic — scales . This means they can steady into elephantine clumps of unseeable matter , forming glum stars .

This is especially interesting because these dark stars can be broaden in space for thousands of short - years but still have relatively humble masses , since the particles are so light . Thus , they can potentially form the cores of galaxy , providing the bulk of these galaxies ' mass without creating superhigh densities at the galactic centers .

But galaxy are made of more than dark issue — fuzzy or otherwise . They also contain normal thing , distributed in the shape of diffuse gas pedal cloud and stars , and it ’s those elements that astronomers can actually follow . So , to test this theme , we ask to understand the link between fuzzy dark thing and normal matter within a galax .

A grainy image of a galaxy

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The ‘fuzz’ in our stars

In a paper published Dec. 17 , 2024 onthe preprint server arXiv , an international team of astrophysicists search how coltsfoot might evolve in response to fuzzy black thing . For this first footmark , they did not attempt to recreate an entire complex galaxy . Instead they built a simple-minded toy poser that contained only two components : a large part of hazy non-white matter and a minor percentage of a simple , ideal gas .

They then computed how these two part would germinate under their mutual gravitational influence . They found that , despite initially random deportment , the blurry dark matter quickly collected into a large glob in the center , with more diffuse clouds of drab matter surrounding it .

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The gun follow along , commingle with the fuzzed colored issue in the center , create what the researcher named a fermion - boson star , in reference to the two variety of affair that immix to spring the central object . This star was totally unlike our typical conception of one . It would be mammoth — up to 10,000light - yearsacross — and almost entirely invisible , except for the elusive gleam of the gas pedal spread throughout it .

A two-paneled image. On the left, a deep sky image showing many stars. On the right, a zoomed-in version showing a cluster of stars.

However , the researchers pointed out that this would process as the ideal theatrical of a galactic core , which contains high — but not too high — densities of normal matter , thereby confirm a key forecasting of the fuzzy moody issue model .

The next footstep is to build up even more sophisticated mannequin to explore what these " wiz " might look like so that astronomers can equate the predictions to substantial - man observation .

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument maps the night sky from the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope in Arizona.

An abstract illustration of lines and geometric shapes over a starry background

a diagram showing the Perseus galaxy cluster

A NASA graphic depicting a galaxy with a red half-circle superimposed over it to represent the mass of dark matter believed to be found there.

An illustration of a black hole

An illustration showing various aspects of the early universe, including radiation generated by the Big Bang and ancient black holes

An illustration of the Milky Way�s central black hole, wrapped in orange gas clouds and orbiting stars

A green aurora rings part of the globe

an illustration of a base on the moon

A tree is silhouetted against the full completed Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023 in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.

Screen-capture of a home security camera facing a front porch during an earthquake.

Circular alignment of stones in the center of an image full of stones

Three-dimensional rendering of an HIV virus

a photo of the Milky Way reflecting off of an alpine lake at night