Scientific breakthrough as researchers discover ‘window into the dark universe’

Known formally as a Reionisation-Limited H I Cloud (RELHIC), Cloud-9 sits in a cosmic “sweet spot.” Its dark matter halo was massive enough to retain primordial gas after the universe’s reionisation era, but not quite massive enough for that gas to collapse and spark star formation.

Most similar halos either evolved into full galaxies or lost their gas to harsh environmental forces, such as ram-pressure stripping.

Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and announced at the American Astronomical Society’s 247th meeting in Phoenix, the findings bolster the standard CDM model of cosmology. They confirm the existence of sub-galactic dark matter halos filled with gas but forever starless—abandoned cosmic building blocks scattered throughout the local universe.

Researchers believe more RELHICs await discovery with future surveys, promising deeper insights into dark matter’s role in shaping the cosmos. For now, Cloud-9 stands alone as a pristine survivor, a silent testament to the universe’s many near-misses on the road to becoming the star-filled wonder we see today.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/2154499/scientific-breakthrough-researchers-discover-window-dark-matter