For over a century, dark matter has remained one of the universe’s most perplexing mysteries. Despite accounting for roughly 27 percent of the cosmos, its elusive nature has kept scientists from directly detecting it, leaving its properties largely theoretical. Now, researchers may have achieved a landmark breakthrough that could finally provide direct evidence of its existence.
A study published on November 25 in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics reports that a team led by Tomonori Totani of the University of Tokyo has detected signs of colliding dark matter particles.
Using gamma-ray data from NASA’s Fermi Space Telescope, the team observed emissions emanating from the center of the Milky Way, which appear consistent with theoretical models of dark matter interactions.
“These gamma rays contain crucial evidence of dark matter,” said Prof. Totani, explaining that the spatial distribution and energy of the observed emissions closely align with predictions for a dark-matter halo. This breakthrough may finally allow scientists to study the substance directly, rather than inferring its presence solely through gravitational effects.
Dark matter was first hypothesized in the 1930s by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky, who noticed that galaxies were spinning faster than their visible mass could account for.
The concept suggested that an unseen mass must be influencing galactic motion. Over decades, the substance has remained undetectable through traditional means, as it neither emits nor absorbs light but exerts a gravitational pull on surrounding galaxies.
If confirmed, this detection would mark the first time humanity has “seen” dark matter, providing a critical window into the universe’s fundamental composition. According to Totani, the gamma-ray emissions closely match the expected shape of the dark-matter halo, offering compelling evidence that the century-long quest may finally be yielding results.
The findings could transform astrophysics, opening new avenues for studying the forces shaping galaxies and the evolution of the cosmos. This breakthrough represents a potential turning point in the ongoing effort to understand one of the universe’s most enigmatic components.
