Scientists believe that a small wobble in Mars’ orbit could provide the answer to one of the greatest mysteries in astronomy: where does dark matter come from .
According to the study led by MIT physicists, published on Tuesday (17) in journal Physical Review D., If most of the dark matter in the universe is made up of microscopic particles from primordial black holes—which formed in the first few seconds after the Big Bang—these particles would streak across the universe and pass through our Solar System at least once every ten years.
The passage of microscopic black holes here would cause a small wobble in Mars’ orbit which, if detected, would prove the theory correct.
Dark matter
Less than 20 percent of all the mass in the universe is made up of visible things, such as everyday objects, planets, and stars. The rest is dark matter, a hypothetical form of matter that is invisible and mysterious, but which scientists believe permeates our universe, exerting a gravitational force large enough to affect the motion of celestial bodies and galaxies.
The possibility that this dark matter exists as microscopic black holes formed in the early universe was introduced in the 1970s, and astronomers may find evidence to support it this time.
Most of these tiny black holes could be as small as an atom and weigh more than an asteroid, exerting a huge gravitational force even though they cannot be seen. And, according to the researchers, they are traveling through the universe, with the probability that they will pass through our Solar System at some point.
If they pass close to Mars, for example, the encounter would generate a small deviation in the planet’s orbit. If this deviation is detected, it would be a step closer to explaining whether the theory of small primordial black holes is plausible, and whether the dark matter that makes up our universe comes from them.
This content was originally published in Oscillation in Mars’ orbit could help explain the origin of dark matter on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
