Is the Universe Whispering in Gamma Rays? The Enigma of Dark Matter Deepens

Humanity may have captured a signal directly from dark matter for the first time. This is stated in a new paper published on the scientific platform IOPscience. A team of scientists led by Tomonori Totani shared data that describe a signal which might be from dark matter. It is important to clarify that, as in most such scientific work, the authors do not assert anything and expressly state that new observations are needed for more specific conclusions.

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Speaking of the essence, it boils down to the fact that, after analyzing 15 years of data from the Fermi LAT telescope, scientists discovered a burst of gamma rays with an energy of 20 GeV. The energy spread symmetrically in a halo-like structure from the center of our galaxy. The form of gamma radiation is close to what is expected for a dark matter halo surrounding our galaxy according to modern views.

Crucially, the analysis showed that the energy spectrum, or the distribution of gamma-ray intensity, matches the levels predicted for the annihilation of hypothetical WIMPs with masses approximately 500 times that of the proton. WIMPs are hypothetical particles thought to carry dark matter. They have not yet been directly detected, and this is not the only theory concerning the basis of dark matter.

Scientists add that the calculated annihilation rate of WIMPs, based on gamma-ray brightness, also aligns with established theoretical expectations. Simply put, the observational data coincide with the dark matter model based on hypothetical WIMP particles. This does not prove that the model is correct, but it is a significant plus in its favor. Totani explicitly says that the obtained data are difficult to explain by other known astronomical processes. Thus, he considers these data as a convincing potential indication of dark matter radiation. The scientist also states that the results must be independently confirmed by other researchers. Additionally, similar data need to be obtained from other sources, potentially dwarf galaxies that are satellites of the Milky Way.

In 2025, further studies have occurred, focusing on the Fermi LAT telescope’s instrumentation advancements, increasing its sensitivity to detect weak signals from elusive entities like dark matter. Recent models have also explored the role of underground detectors in verifying cosmic signals, highlighting an upcoming collaboration among international laboratories to explore these cosmic enigmas even further.