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Mysterious glow at Milky Way's center could be first evidence of elusive dark matter

By isabelle // 2025-10-17

• Researchers may have found the first indirect evidence of dark matter.
• A mysterious gamma-ray glow at the Milky Way's center is the key signal.
• New simulations show dark matter's distribution matches the observed gamma rays.
• This makes dark matter a leading explanation for the mysterious energy.
• Future telescopes will now work to confirm this groundbreaking discovery.

For years, the scientific establishment has been chasing a ghost. They have known it must be there and felt its gravitational pull holding the very fabric of the cosmos together, yet it has remained utterly invisible. This substance, known as dark matter, makes up a staggering 27% of our universe, yet it has baffled every attempt at direct detection. Now, in a stunning breakthrough, researchers believe they may have finally glimpsed its shadow. A mysterious and unexplained glow of gamma rays emanating from the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy could be the first tangible evidence of this elusive cosmic component. The discovery centers on a diffuse haze of high-energy light observed by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. For years, this peculiar glow at the galactic center has puzzled astrophysicists. Two primary theories have battled for dominance. One suggested the radiation came from a population of ancient, spinning neutron stars known as millisecond pulsars. The other, more profound explanation, proposed it was the telltale signature of dark matter particles annihilating one another in violent collisions. This new research, led by scientists from Johns Hopkins University and the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics, has provided valuable new insight into the topic. The team employed powerful supercomputers to create highly detailed simulations of the Milky Way, specifically modeling how dark matter should be distributed. Their key innovation was accounting for the galaxy's violent formation history, where smaller systems merged, dragging dark matter into the dense central core. "Our galaxy formed out of a vast cloud of dark matter," said Professor Joseph Silk, a co-author of the study. "The ordinary matter cooled down and fell into the central regions, dragging along some dark matter for the ride."

A new map of the invisible

When the researchers compared their simulated maps of dark matter to the actual gamma-ray maps from the Fermi telescope, they found a remarkable match. The predicted distribution and signal of gamma rays from colliding dark matter aligned with what was actually observed in the real world. This alignment addresses a major historical challenge for the dark matter explanation. Lead author Dr. Moorits Muru explained the breakthrough simply: "One of the main challenges for the dark matter explanation was that its predicted distribution didn't match the observed gamma-ray excess. In our new study, we found that this mismatch came from a simplifying assumption." The old models assumed dark matter was perfectly spherical around the galactic center. The new, more realistic simulations show it is actually flattened. This crucial adjustment made all the difference, creating a model that finally fits the real-world data. Professor Silk emphasized the significance, stating, "Our key new result is that dark matter fits the gamma-ray data at least as well as the rival neutron star hypothesis. We have increased the odds that dark matter has been indirectly detected." This is not yet a definitive confirmation, but it is a monumental step forward in a decades-long quest.

The search for a smoking gun

The scientific community remains cautiously optimistic. The study concludes that both the dark matter and the millisecond pulsar theories are equally likely based on current data. To settle the debate, researchers are looking to the future. The soon-to-be-constructed Cherenkov Telescope Array in Chile, which will be the world's most powerful gamma-ray telescope, is poised to provide the answers. Its superior sensitivity may be able to distinguish the subtle differences between gamma rays produced by dark matter and those from neutron stars. Alternatively, the telescope could scan nearby dwarf galaxies, which are believed to be heavily dominated by dark matter. Finding the same gamma-ray signal in those locations would strongly corroborate the hypothesis. "Detecting the same signal Fermi found for the galactic centre would confirm the dark matter hypothesis," says Professor Silk, who calls this his "great hope" for a conclusive answer. This pursuit strikes at the heart of our understanding of reality. For too long, the powers that be in science have been forced to admit that most of the universe is made of something they cannot see or explain. This new evidence represents a powerful challenge to that ignorance. It is a testament to relentless inquiry and a refusal to accept that the true nature of the cosmos must remain forever hidden. The mysterious glow at the center of our galaxy is more than just light; it is a beacon, potentially guiding us toward one of the greatest discoveries in human history and finally illuminating the dark heart of the universe. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk Reuters.com Phys.org

space research dark matter discovery universe Milky Way real science cosmos