Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Researchers have unveiled the most intricate dark matter map to date, utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Dark matter, an elusive component of the universe, constitutes the bulk of matter, yet it remains invisible as it neither emits nor reflects light.
While ordinary matter, such as stars, planets, and humans, constitutes merely 15 percent of the universe, dark matter accounts for around 85 percent. Scientists explore this mysterious substance through its gravitational influences on galaxies and light.
To produce the groundbreaking map, scientists examined the light bending effects, known as gravitational lensing, caused by approximately 250,000 distant galaxies. This phenomenon uncovers the locations of dark matter.
This new visualization surpasses previous maps created by the Hubble Space Telescope in resolution and depth, portraying the universe as it existed 8 to 10 billion years ago—a crucial era for galaxy formation.
The map illustrates the cosmic web with remarkable clarity, highlighting galaxy clusters, extensive dark matter filaments, and areas with reduced matter.
Thanks to the advanced infrared technologies of James Webb, it can detect fainter and more distant galaxies, offering sharper images than those provided by Hubble, ultimately enabling the creation of more precise dark matter maps.
This research, guided by NASA scientist Diana Scognamiglio, was published in the journal Nature Astronomy. She remarked that the telescope acts as “a new pair of glasses for the universe,” allowing for enhanced visibility of concealed structures.
The map targets the COSMOS region within the Sextans constellation, setting the stage for future inquiries into the universe's formation and evolution.
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