Summary:
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Primordial Black Holes Explained
Recent research suggests that atom-sized black holes, formed shortly after the universe’s birth, could help explain the mystery of missing dark matter. These black holes may contain the mass of asteroids and pass through our solar system about once a decade. -
Detection Possibilities
If a primordial black hole passes near a planet or large moon, it could cause measurable disturbances in their orbits. Scientists believe that the resulting “wobble” could be detected by current instruments. -
Mars as a Key Target
The study indicates that the effects of a black hole flyby would be most noticeable for Mars, with potential shifts in distance measurable to within 10 centimeters. Over three years, the wobble could grow to between one to three meters. -
Independent Research Confirmation
An independent team has also explored the detection of primordial black holes, suggesting that their signatures could be observed using data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems and gravimeters that monitor variations in Earth’s gravitational field. -
Rethinking Dark Matter
Traditionally, physicists expected dark matter to consist of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), but failed searches have led to a resurgence of interest in primordial black holes as a viable dark matter candidate.
Read more at: Scientific American | NASA | Physical Review D | Physical Review D