🪐 Japanese Astrophysicist Claims He Found Evidence of Dark Matter Particles

Tomonori Totani, a professor at the University of Tokyo, analyzed 15 years of data from the Fermi space telescope and spotted gamma rays with energies around 20 GeV moving from the Milky Way's halo toward its center.

The brightness and qualities of these gamma rays match what scientists expect when hypothetical dark matter particles, called WIMPs, collide and destroy each other—a process called annihilation.

"When I first spotted what seemed like a signal, I was skeptical. But when I took the time to check it meticulously and felt confident it was correct, I got goosebumps," Totani said.

🚀 What Is Dark Matter?

About a century ago, astronomers noticed that the outer regions of spiral galaxies rotate faster than gravity from visible matter alone can explain. They proposed the existence of invisible particles that don't absorb, reflect, or emit light, but still exert gravitational pull. These came to be known as dark matter.

Today, scientists estimate that dark matter accounts for roughly 85% of the universe's total matter. Yet, it has been detected only through its indirect effects.

🔍 Many other astrophysicists are cautious in their conclusions. They say a claim this groundbreaking requires extraordinary evidence, and the gamma-ray signal could still have another explanation.

Totani agrees that independent confirmation is essential: researchers will need to find similar signals in other dark-matter–dense regions, such as dwarf galaxies.

@hiaimediaen