Astronomers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the distribution of matter in the universe. Using Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), they've located over three-quarters of the universe's ordinary matter, which was previously unaccounted for, residing in the thin gas between galaxies.
This discovery marks a major step forward in solving the 'missing baryon problem', which has puzzled scientists for decades. The research also identified the most distant FRB event on record, providing crucial data for this groundbreaking analysis.
The study analyzed 60 FRBs, ranging from 11.74 million to 9.1 billion light-years away. This allowed researchers to pinpoint the missing matter within the intergalactic medium (IGM), the space between galaxies.
FRBs act as cosmic flashlights, allowing scientists to measure the density of the IGM by observing how the radio signals are slowed down as they pass through space. The results revealed that approximately 76% of the universe's baryonic matter resides in the IGM.
This finding aligns with predictions from cosmological simulations and confirms the efficiency of feedback mechanisms, such as supermassive black holes and exploding stars, in distributing matter throughout the universe. This research provides a new perspective on the universe's structure and composition.
The research provides a new perspective on the universe's structure and composition. The discovery highlights the potential of FRBs as a tool for exploring the universe's hidden components, offering insights into the evolution of galaxies and the cosmic web.