Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by using fast radio bursts (FRBs) to track down missing matter in the universe. FRBs are brief, intense flashes of radio waves that originate from distant galaxies.
Researchers used FRBs to map out the distribution of ordinary matter, including protons and neutrons, which make up most of the universe’s mass. By analyzing the speed at which these bursts slowed down as they traveled through space, scientists were able to measure the invisible matter.
The study found that 76% of cosmic matter exists as hot, low-density gas in the space between galaxies, while 15% is located in galactic halos and the remaining 9% within galaxies themselves. This discovery solves a decades-long problem known as the “missing baryon problem” and sheds light on the universe’s structure and composition.
The use of FRBs to study the universe’s matter distribution is a crucial tool for cosmology, allowing researchers to understand how galaxies grow and evolve. Fast radio bursts may also be used to map the cosmic web in detail, a vast network of dark matter that serves as the backbone of the universe.
This breakthrough has significant implications for our understanding of the universe, from the formation of galaxies to the distribution of ordinary matter. As research continues, scientists hope to build upon this discovery by finding and tracing even more FRBs, potentially revealing new insights into the cosmos.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/16/science/fast-radio-bursts-missing-matter