Scientists find part of universe’s missing matter

The perfect positioning of the galaxy, as well as the discovery of gas exchange due to galactic winds, made it possible to draw up a unique map.

New York: A team of scientists has mapped a galactic wind for the first time, a finding that may help to reveal where some of the universe’s missing matter is located and to observe the formation of a nebula around a galaxy.

The galactic wind was observed via the MUSE instrument from the Very Large Telescope at the European Southern Observatory.

---

One of the major problems in understanding the formation of galaxies is that approximately 80 per cent of the baryons that make up the normal matter of galaxies are missing. Baryons are particles consisting of protons and neutrons.

The international team used the MUSE instrument to generate a detailed map of the galactic wind driving exchanges between a young galaxy in formation and a nebula — a cloud of gas and interstellar dust.

The perfect positioning of the galaxy, as well as the discovery of gas exchange due to galactic winds, made it possible to draw up a unique map.

This also enabled the first observation of a nebula in formation that is simultaneously emitting and absorbing magnesium — some of the universe’s missing baryons.

Scientists thus confirmed that 80-90 per cent of normal matter is located outside of galaxies, an observation that will help expand models for the evolution of galaxies.