In a groundbreaking study, researchers have unveiled a high-resolution map of dark matter, often termed as the ‘invisible scaffolding of the Universe’. This map sheds light on the gravitational impact dark matter has on the formation of stars and galaxies, offering an unprecedented view into the cosmic architecture.
Dark matter, which comprises 85% of the Universe’s total matter, remains invisible due to its non-interaction with light. However, its gravitational force is key to holding galaxies together, as reaffirmed by the map published in Nature Astronomy. The study highlights how this celestial glue has been a silent architect of the cosmos.
The map, spanning a section of the sky in the constellation Sextans, utilized the James Webb Space Telescope and identified nearly 800,000 galaxies. This research not only confirms previous findings but also provides new insights into the relationship between dark and normal matter, crucial for galaxy and star formation.