The Hidden Truth: Astronomers Uncover the Location of Missing Ordinary Matter in the Universe

CynthiaSci/Tech2025-06-205575

Astronomers have long been puzzled by the whereabouts of the "missing" ordinary matter in the universe, accounting for only 15% of all matter despite its presence in everything from planets and stars to people and trees. However, a recent breakthrough in research has finally shed light on this elusive matter, revealing that it is hiding in the vast expanses between galaxies as gas spread out in a diffuse cosmic web.

The discovery was made by a team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology and the Center for Astrophysics, who studied fast radio bursts (FRBs) - brief, bright flashes of electromagnetic radiation that travel through space. These radio waves, emanating from 69 locations across the cosmos, are so powerful that they produce more energy than our sun emits in an entire year. By measuring how the light from these radio bursts spread and dispersed while traveling toward Earth, the astronomers were able to determine how much matter was in their path.

The results of this study revealed that about 75% of the universe's ordinary matter resides in the intergalactic medium, also known as the space between galaxies. This distribution is in line with predictions from advanced cosmological simulations but has never been observed and confirmed until now. The remaining 15% of the "missing" matter exists within galaxies in the form of stars and cold galactic gas, or in the halos of diffuse material around them.

Astronomers theorize that this distribution happens as gas is ejected from galaxies when massive stars explode in supernovas or when supermassive black holes inside galaxies expel material after consuming stars or gas. The findings will help researchers better understand how galaxies grow and will be further explored by Caltech's future deep-space radio telescope, the DSA-2000, which is planned to detect up to 10,000 fast radio bursts per year.

The study was published in the journal Nature on June 16th, and it is hoped that this discovery will shed new light on the mysteries of the universe and our place within it. The image accompanying this article shows a visualization of the cosmic web, illustrating the vast interconnectedness of galaxies and the hidden secrets of the universe that have now been uncovered through this groundbreaking research.

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Daryl

A thrilling disclosure unraveling the enigmatic veil of missing ordinary matter in our cosmic domain, making previously elusive astronomical mysteries a step closer to being unveiled through The Hidden Truth's insightful and meticulous analysis.

2025-07-01 05:30:36 reply
Savannah

Exposing the hidden truth behind our universe's composition, 'The Hidden Truth: Astronomers Uncover the Location of Missing Ordinary Matter in The Universe,' shed light on a long-puzzling aspect that adds depth to cosmic understanding and inspires future investigations into its nature.

2025-07-04 10:57:22 reply
Coral

This groundbreaking discovery by astronomers underscores the importance of unraveling the 'missing matter' mystery in our universe, revealing a crucial step towards understanding its hidden truth. Well done!⌚ To take us one notch closer to fully realizing what lies beyond cosmic vision.

2025-07-04 10:57:37 reply
Kalista

This groundbreaking research, 'The Hidden Truth: Astronomers Uncover the Location of Missing Ordinary Matter in the Universe,' elevates our understanding to reveal where astrophysicists have long sought - shedding light on a crucial missing link beyond current knowledge.

2025-07-05 02:13:29 reply
Lilou

The hidden truth uncovered by astronomers in this groundbreaking research is a significant step towards understanding the elusive nature of ordinary matter missing from our universe's accounting, promising new insights into how cosmic mass balances.

2025-07-09 21:01:11 reply

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