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The universe has long kept a secret that left cosmologists perplexed. Almost half of the ordinary material of the universe, responsible for the formation of everything, from protons to stars, passing through planets and human beings, has remained elusive because of its diffuse nature. Thanks to a revolutionary study, rapid radio starts (FRBS) allowed astronomers to trace 76 % of all normal material until the intergalactic environment. This major advance was made possible by direct detection of this missing material, using powerful radius of radio waves from distant galaxies. These cosmic signals, although ephemeral, serve as precise probes, illuminating the intergalactic environment otherwise invisible.
Light bursts and hidden material
Rapid radio starts (FRBS) roam billions of light years to reach the earth, crossing clouds of ionized gas between galaxies. The radio waves slow down slightly according to the amount of material they encounter on the way. By measuring this period, known as dispersion, scientists can calculate the quantity of invisible matter on the way to the FRBS. These luminous shards cross the mist of the intergalactic environment, and by measuring precisely how light slows down, we can weigh this mist, even when it is too weak to be seenexplains Liam Connor, professor at Harvard and principal author of the study.
The study analyzed 69 well -localized frbs, each with a host galaxy and a known distance. Among them, the FRB 20230521B, located at 9.1 billion-light years, is the most distant ever recorded. Although more than a thousand FRBs have been detected to date, only a hundred have been precisely retraced to their host galaxies, which is essential to map the material they have gone through.
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Ghost particles and large indications
This distribution of matter is aligned with the predictions made by advanced cosmological simulations, but has never been confirmed by observation so far. The results also open up new paths to probe fundamental physics. For example, they could help determine the mass of neutrinos, subatomic particles. Although the standard model of particle physics assumes that neutrinos have no mass, real observations suggest the opposite. Knowing their precise mass could unlock a physics beyond current theories.
According to Vikram Ravi, this discovery is only the beginning for the FRBS in cosmology. A new project, the DSA-2000 radio telescope of Caltech, currently in development in the Nevada desert, should locate up to 10,000 frbs each year, considerably expanding their role in the exploration of the structure of the universe.
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The implications for cosmology
Confirmation that 76 % of the ordinary matter lies in the intergalactic environment has deep implications for cosmology. This discovery allows a better understanding of the distribution of matter in the universe and forces that shape galaxies. It could also help resolve some of the most persistent mysteries of cosmology, such as black energy and dark matter.
Instruments such as the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA) -110 and the Square kilometer Array Pathfinder in Australia played a crucial role in these discoveries. Using these advanced tools, astronomers were able to identify and locate the FRBs with unprecedented precision, paving the way for new research on the structure of the universe.
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Towards a new era of cosmic exploration
The ability of FRBs to illuminate invisible material marks a new era of cosmic exploration. Future projects, such as DSA-2000, promise to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. With the possibility of detecting and locating thousands of frbs each year, astronomers will be better equipped to study the distribution of large -scale material.
Beyond the mapping of matter, this research could also offer indices on the nature of black energy, one of the greatest puzzles of modern cosmology. The ability to probe invisible matter with such precision could open new ways to understand the fundamental mechanisms that govern our universe.
While astronomers continue to decipher the secrets of the universe thanks to the rapid radio starts, a question persists: what other wonders, could these cosmic bursts reveal in the future?
The author relied on artificial intelligence to enrich this article.
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