Indirect evidence of ‘dark photons’ has been spotted in the shrapnel of thousands of particle-smashing experiments. This could provide a glimpse into the mysterious nature of dark matter — which seems to make up most of the mass of the universe but is almost impossible to observe, other than by its gravitational effects. “The story is something like this: there could be an additional dark sector, where dark matter resides,” says particle physicist Carlos Wagner. Dark photons, if they exist, could weakly interact with normal matter, offering a window into the dark sector.

  • Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Maybe a really silly question, but if there’s possibly a “dark sector” with “dark matter”, could there also be “dark lifeforms”? Even if it’s only simple life, but made of dark matter?

    • Blóðbók@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Based on what we know, dark matter doesn’t seem to collide with anything - not even itself. If we are correct (and if I am not mistaken), there doesn’t seem to be enough complexity in its dynamics to support life.

      • Kale@lemmy.zip
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        1 year ago

        In what way does dark matter interact with matter/light that people think it exists, is it gravitational?

    • rockerface 🇺🇦@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      There could probably be anything. Since dark matter is, by definition, something we can’t observe directly and can only infer what we know