Denmark — August 2025 In a bold leap beyond Earth-bound laboratories, physicists at the University of Copenhagen have turned the universe itself into a sprawling experimental playground in their quest to uncover the secrets of dark matter.
Rather than relying on traditional particle accelerators, the team harnessed the immense magnetic fields of galaxy clusters to probe the behavior of gamma rays emitted by supermassive black holes. Their goal? To detect subtle traces of axions—hypothetical particles that could explain the invisible mass making up most of the cosmos.
By analyzing light from 32 distant black holes filtered through cosmic magnetic fields, the researchers identified a faint, step-like signal that may hint at axion conversion. While not definitive proof, the pattern marks a significant advance in narrowing the search for dark matter.
“This approach lets us listen to the universe in a new way,” said one researcher. “It’s like tuning into a whisper that’s been echoing across space for billions of years.”
The study opens new doors for astrophysical particle detection and may reshape how scientists explore the dark side of the universe.
Source | University of Copenhagen