Recent puzzling discoveries in the study of distant galaxies are shaking up the traditional beliefs of cosmologists, potentially casting doubt on the existence of dark matter. Astronomers have long relied on dark matter to explain the unusual rotation speeds of stars and visible matter at the edges of galaxies. However, new findings suggest that this mysterious substance may not be as prevalent as previously thought.
By observing how massive objects distort space and time, researchers have gained insights into the composition of galaxies. The presence of dark matter is typically inferred from the gravitational lensing effect it produces on light passing through galaxies. In a groundbreaking study led by astronomer Tobias Mistele of Case Western Reserve University, a team analyzed images of over 130,000 galaxies captured by the VLT Survey Telescope in Chile. Their goal was to identify signs of gravitational lensing, which would indicate the presence of hidden matter within these galaxies.
2024-07-05 09:30:00
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