Researchers Detect an X-ray Signal That Could Be The First Proof Of Dark Matter

Researchers have detected a signal in X-ray observation of galaxies that could be the first evidence of the existence of the dark matter.

Astrophysicists are studying the X-rays from the Andromeda galaxy and the Perseus galaxy cluster. 

Researchers noted that after they removed and identified all signals and particles from known sources, one left unexplained, hinting that the signal did not attributed to normal matter. 

"The signal's distribution within the galaxy corresponds exactly to what we were expecting with dark matter, that is, concentrated and intense in the center of objects and weaker and diffuse on the edges," said EPFL scientist Oleg Ruchayskiy.

Theory of dark matter was proposed several decades ago when researchers found that normal matter alone could not account for the way stars moved in galaxies. 

Physicists estimate that our universe has four times more dark matter than normal matter. However, the only effect dark matter has on ordinary matter is through gravitation, and that's why researchers are yet to pinpoint the evidence of dark matter's evidence. 

 "Confirmation of this discovery may lead to construction of new telescopes specially designed for studying the signals from dark matter particles. We will know where to look in order to trace dark structures in space and will be able to reconstruct how the Universe has formed," Alexey Boyarsky of Leiden University stated in a press release.

The study will be published in the journal Physical Review Letters.