![DARK MATTER A NEW DAWN](https://cdn.magzter.com/1422872401/1708588669/articles/5WRR77r861708598373783/DARK-MATTER-A-NEW-DAWN.jpg)
Tiny, fuzzy blobs. I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few years looking at images of tiny, fuzzy blobs. They’re only ever a few pixels wide, like smudges on a photo, but they could be the key that unlocks the mystery of dark matter.
The blobs are galaxies: swirling pools of stars and planets suspended in space, millions of light-years away from Earth. The images were collected by an advanced camera with a 1m (3.3ft) lens mounted on the giant Victor M Blanco Telescope, 2,200m (7,200ft) up in the mountains of the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Astronomers have spent years using it to scan the sky, gathering images of the cosmos. I, and my colleagues in the Dark Energy Survey, have pored over these images of millions of tiny fuzzy blobs in the hope that they reveal a vital missing piece in our understanding of the Universe. We’re on the edge of our seats, because this piece fills the gaping hole in our understanding of the cosmos. It could even turn that understanding completely upside down.
AN INVISIBLE TRUTH
You might think that cosmologists have the Universe sussed. And it’s true that we have learnt a lot about it and how it works.
But there’s an elephant in the room: our theory of the Universe hinges on the existence of dark matter, and we have no idea what dark matter is. In fact, less than one-fifth of the matter in the Universe is made up of particles whose physics we understand.
Do you feel confident admitting that you only understand 20 per cent of something?
Yes, we can be proud that we’ve honed a standard model of cosmology: a physical and mathematical description of the Universe. It’s a major achievement. But, thanks to this dark matter elephant, we can’t be absolutely sure that it makes any sense at all.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2024-Ausgabe von BBC Science Focus.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2024-Ausgabe von BBC Science Focus.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
![THE HUNGER GAME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/Z7qU2pAyR1718049285933/THE-HUNGER-GAME.jpg)
THE HUNGER GAME
Obesity is on the rise, but as we blame our unhealthy food-ridden environment and look to wonder drugs to get rid of unwanted fat, what role do our genetics play?
![HOW THE UNIVERSE WILL END](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/e4StSKEvh1718048657017/HOW-THE-UNIVERSE-WILL-END.jpg)
HOW THE UNIVERSE WILL END
A colossal supercollider now in the early stages of development may one day help us predict the ultimate fate of the Universe. With it, scientists will be trying to find a hidden instability built into the fabric of existence... an instability that could destroy everything
![DARK ENERGY MIGHT BE ABOUT TO THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/Qklw1KSgX1718048099181/DARK-ENERGY-MIGHT-BE-ABOUT-TO-THROW-A-SPANNER-IN-THE-WORKS.jpg)
DARK ENERGY MIGHT BE ABOUT TO THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS
The most mysterious phenomenon in the Universe could be about to spring another surprise on us
![TAKE-OFF AT LAST](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/iISPLsxP41718048252740/TAKEOFF-AT-LAST.jpg)
TAKE-OFF AT LAST
AFTER A LONG WAIT, THE WORLD'S FIRST ZERO EMISSIONS AEROPLANES ARE FINALLY TAXIING TO REALITY. BUT ARE THEY THE SOLUTION WE NEED?
![INSIDE THE 3D, NANOSCALE ATLAS THAT REVEALS A FRACTION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/5AKTQ5Mkf1718047926486/INSIDE-THE-3D-NANOSCALE-ATLAS-THAT-REVEALS-A-FRACTION-OF-THE-HUMAN-BRAIN.jpg)
INSIDE THE 3D, NANOSCALE ATLAS THAT REVEALS A FRACTION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN
The map is now the highest-resolution picture of the human brain ever created
![HOW THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN NUCLEAR FORENSICS MAY HELP CLEAN UP CHERNOBYL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/1o6wXlt8s1718047693000/HOW-THE-LATEST-DEVELOPMENT-IN-NUCLEAR-FORENSICS-MAY-HELP-CLEAN-UP-CHERNOBYL.jpg)
HOW THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN NUCLEAR FORENSICS MAY HELP CLEAN UP CHERNOBYL
Contrary to popular belief, radioactive material doesn't glow. But a team of nuclear forensics experts are working on a device to make it do just that. BBC Science Focus's Noa Leach meets the scientists behind the innovative device
![MAJOR STUDY SHOWS HOW ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS CHANGE YOUR LIFESPAN, IF YOU'RE NOT EATING YOUR VEG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/v-Dk1Z6ut1718047527881/MAJOR-STUDY-SHOWS-HOW-ULTRAPROCESSED-FOODS-CHANGE-YOUR-LIFESPAN-IF-YOURE-NOT-EATING-YOUR-VEG.jpg)
MAJOR STUDY SHOWS HOW ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS CHANGE YOUR LIFESPAN, IF YOU'RE NOT EATING YOUR VEG
While ultra-processed food is bad for your health, a decades-long study suggests it may not be as harmful as previously thought
![ORIGIN OF EARTH'S 'SECOND MOON' DISCOVERED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/QBL_U0EzW1718047415201/ORIGIN-OF-EARTHS-SECOND-MOON-DISCOVERED.jpg)
ORIGIN OF EARTH'S 'SECOND MOON' DISCOVERED
Asteroid sampling mission will confirm whether moon-like Kamo'oalewa came from our Moon
![INTERMITTENT FASTING AND CORRECTLY TIMED WORKOUTS ARE KEY TO FAT LOSS, SAYS STUDY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/FR3rIFP0Z1718047329562/INTERMITTENT-FASTING-AND-CORRECTLY-TIMED-WORKOUTS-ARE-KEY-TO-FAT-LOSS-SAYS-STUDY.jpg)
INTERMITTENT FASTING AND CORRECTLY TIMED WORKOUTS ARE KEY TO FAT LOSS, SAYS STUDY
A new approach to dieting and exercise could help you lose weight and enhance your health
![MASSIVE EXPLOSION SPOTTED ON MYSTERIOUS DEAD STAR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/145JW0IE71718047234402/MASSIVE-EXPLOSION-SPOTTED-ON-MYSTERIOUS-DEAD-STAR.jpg)
MASSIVE EXPLOSION SPOTTED ON MYSTERIOUS DEAD STAR
A satellite in the right place at the right time captured an important cosmic sight