Dark matter is seen for the first time in eerie image

"Scientists have captured the first-ever direct evidence for dark matter, the elusive substance that makes up more than a quarter of the universe. Using NASA's Fermi telescope, researchers have detected powerful gamma-ray radiation emerging from a 'halo-like' structure surrounding the Milky Way. Its frequency and intensity suggest that this could be dark matter. According to the study's author, Professor Tomonori Totani of the University of Tokyo, this eerie image is the first time that humanity has been able to 'see' the mysterious substance."

"Many scientists believe that dark matter is made up of something called weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs. WIMPS are much larger than normal particles like protons, but don't interact with conventional matter - making them almost impossible to detect. However, when two WIMPs collide, they are annihilated and release a burst of photons in the form of gamma-ray radiation."

NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected powerful gamma-ray emission forming a halo-like structure around the Milky Way whose frequency and intensity match expectations for dark matter annihilation. The halo signal is spatially extended across the galactic halo and differs from the previously known galactic centre (GC) excess concentrated at the Galaxy's core. The invisible influence attributed to dark matter explains galactic rotation and cosmic expansion. A leading candidate is weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) whose mutual annihilation would produce gamma-ray photons. Fifteen years of Fermi data were analyzed focusing on regions where dark matter is expected to collect, revealing this halo signature.

Read at Mail Online