NASA shared a new kind of map that tries to show where “dark matter” might be—even though dark matter can’t be seen. To do it, scientists used observations from two well-known space telescopes: the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Dark matter is thought to be invisible stuff in space that doesn’t shine like stars or glow like planets. So how can it be mapped? Scientists look for gravity’s effects. Gravity is an invisible pull, and even if you can’t see what’s causing the pull, you can notice what it does.
One big clue comes from bent light. When light from far-away galaxies travels past big clumps of matter, the gravity can bend and stretch that light a tiny bit—like looking through wiggly glass. By measuring those small bends, scientists can infer where extra gravity is coming from.
By combining newer Webb observations with earlier Hubble data, scientists can compare and double-check their work to make a clearer picture. Better maps can help scientists understand how galaxies grew and how the universe is put together.
Dark matter is thought to be invisible stuff in space that doesn’t shine like stars or glow like planets. So how can it be mapped? Scientists look for gravity’s effects. Gravity is an invisible pull, and even if you can’t see what’s causing the pull, you can notice what it does.
One big clue comes from bent light. When light from far-away galaxies travels past big clumps of matter, the gravity can bend and stretch that light a tiny bit—like looking through wiggly glass. By measuring those small bends, scientists can infer where extra gravity is coming from.
By combining newer Webb observations with earlier Hubble data, scientists can compare and double-check their work to make a clearer picture. Better maps can help scientists understand how galaxies grew and how the universe is put together.