LSST discovers evidence of Dark Matter in intergalactic

collisions
News Release No: DC-27-5-1939
27 February 2024

A team of astronomers manning the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)

have found demonstrable evidence that takes important strides in cementing the
existence of dark matter once and for all.
This is a crucial moment in the
world of astrophysics. We may be
closer now to understanding the
constituents of our universe than
ever before, said Dr J. Anthony
Tyson of California University, Chief
Scientist of the LSST.
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, on the Cerro Pachon
ridge in Chile
Dark Matter, which is said to make up 22.5%
of the universe as opposed to
ordinary matter which constitutes a mere 4.5%, is one of the most unusual
components of the universe. It is a type of matter which is supposed to be
several times heavier than ordinary matter, yet it does not interact with ordinary
matter in any other way. It is invisible and does not radiate any form of
detectable energy and is only observable due to its effects on ordinary matter in
the form a gravitational lensing, the phenomenon of bending of light due to
gravity explained by Albert Einstein.

If we consider the universe to be

made up of only ordinary matter,
we quickly notice that our
observations fail to coincide with
theory, indicating that there has to
be some sort of additional
unobservable mass pulling things
toward each other in the cosmos,
explains Dr Zeljko Ivezic of the
University of Washington, who is
Project Scientist at the LSST. Dark
Matter seems to be the best
explanation we have so far among
Gravitational lensing observed in galaxies by the LSST.
Disproportionately large amounts of lensing may indicate the
the plethora of possible
presence of dark matter.
explanations. While there are alternative theories to Dark Matter and energy
which try to explain these incongruences by suggesting modifications to
gravitational theory on large scales, Dark Matter theory is among the most
widely accepted explanations for this.
The LSST may change this though. Recently, it observed several instances of the
result of the collision of galactic clusters, and noticed that despite approximately
90 percent of the mass of these galactic clusters being stored in the hot gaseous
clouds, the galaxies themselves had sailed through uninhibited. This, according

to scientists means that despite only 6 percent of the observable mass being
concentrated in the galaxies, the centre of gravity was still located in this mass.
While few instances of intergalactic clusters have been observed in the past, the
sheer number of observed cases overwhelmingly demonstrates the presence of
dark matter.
This is astounding information, said Ivezic. It almost certainly proves the
existence of dark matter, as even with a redefined theory of gravity, the
presence of dark matter would be necessary.
While this is not the first time that scientists have discovered intergalactic
collisions of this nature, the LSST provides them the chance to observe these
cosmic events in such high fidelity. The LSST allows us to observe these
phenomena with astounding detail, helping us glean more information about our
universe than ever before, commented Tyson. This may help us finally
understand Dark Matter which has been practically incomprehensible so far.