Central OC Times

Irvine, Calif., Apr 29, 2024 - A recent study conducted by astronomers at the University of California, Irvine, has provided further support for the existence of dark matter in the universe through computer simulations. The research, led by Francisco Mercado, a postdoctoral scholar at Pomona College, aimed to address the ongoing debate in astrophysics regarding the necessity of dark matter to explain various phenomena observed in the cosmos.

Mercado highlighted the significance of their work by stating, “Our paper shows how we can use real, observed relationships as a basis to test two different models to describe the universe.” The team's simulations revealed features in galaxies that align with expectations in a universe containing dark matter, as Mercado explained, “These features are expected to appear in a universe with dark matter but would be difficult to explain in a universe without it.”

Professor James Bullock from UCI emphasized the crucial role of dark matter in understanding the behavior of stars and galaxies, stating, “Observed galaxies seem to obey a tight relationship between the matter we see and the inferred dark matter we detect.” He further expressed his conviction in the dark matter model, noting, “What we showed is that not only does dark matter predict the relationship, but for many galaxies it can explain what we see more naturally than modified gravity.”

Co-author Jorge Moreno from Pomona College highlighted the collaborative nature of the study, pointing out that the observations indicating the presence of dark matter features were initially conducted by proponents of dark matter-free theories. Moreno stressed the importance of integrating both dark matter and normal-matter physics, stating, “Simply put, the features we examined in observations require both the existence of dark matter and the incorporation of normal-matter physics.”

Looking ahead, Mercado discussed the potential for further exploration in distinguishing between different dark matter models, stating, “It would be interesting to see if we could use this same relationship to even distinguish between different dark matter models.”

The study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, not only reaffirms the presence of dark matter in the universe but also underscores the collaborative efforts of scientists in advancing our understanding of the cosmos.

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This article is a concise and informative report highlighting the findings of UC Irvine astronomers in supporting the dark matter theory through their recent simulations. It emphasizes key statements made by the researchers involved in the study.