Dark Matter Confirms Galaxies Are Connected By Cosmic Web

A dark matter bridge, which is a web-like superstructure that connects galaxies together, has been captured by scientists recently. The first composite image that combines several individual images has confirmed previous predictions suggesting that galaxies across the universe are connected together through a cosmic web linked by dark matter, which has remained unobservable until now.

Dark Matter Web Connects Galaxies

The dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up 25 percent of the universe does not absorb or reflect light, nor does it shine, which makes it hardly detectable except through gravity. According to Prof. Mike Hudson of the University of Waterloo in Canada, the images will help further studies, which may possibly lead to findings that they can see and measure.

Dark matter has greatly influenced the distant galaxies to warp slightly through the help of a technique used by the researchers. Reports indicate that the effect was measured in images coming from a multi-year sky study, which was combined with the lensing images from over 23,000 galaxy pairs traced 4.5 billion light years away. Based on the findings, the dark matter filament bridge is strongest between systems, which is less than 40 million light years apart, Indian Express reported.

Weak Gravitational Lensing Helped In The Dark Matter Research

Researchers have long been predicting the existence of the dark matter filaments between galaxies. But while the cosmic web of dark matter in the universe remained elusive, the researchers were able to confirm its existence by locating a weak gravitational lensing.

Based on reports, astronomers usually used gravitational lensing technique in studying the light from distant galaxies as the beams are warped by gigantic galactic structures. However, the gravity of smaller cosmic objects is able to bend light as well, including the strands of dark matter. Meantime, the details of the study have been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, UPI reported.