We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode Could This Particle 'Clean Up' A Cosmic Mystery?

Could This Particle 'Clean Up' A Cosmic Mystery?

2025/2/17
logo of podcast Short Wave

Short Wave
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
C
Chanda Prescott-Weinstein
Topics
Chanda Prescott-Weinstein: 我认为宇宙中存在着大量的暗物质，这些物质不与光发生相互作用，因此我们无法直接观测到它们。尽管我们看不见暗物质，但我们可以通过它对星系运动的影响来推断它的存在。暗物质必须具备一些关键特性，例如不与光发生强烈的相互作用，并且移动速度相对较慢，这样才能在引力的作用下聚集起来，形成我们今天所看到的星系结构。如果暗物质移动速度过快，它就会逃脱引力的束缚，无法形成星系。因此，暗物质的这些特性对于理解宇宙的结构和演化至关重要。我的研究主要集中在探索暗物质的本质，以及它如何影响星系的形成和演化。通过研究暗物质的特性，我们可以更深入地了解宇宙的奥秘。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The universe has a missing matter problem: dark matter. We can detect its gravitational effects but can't see it because it doesn't interact with light. This mysterious substance makes up over a quarter of the universe.
  • Dark matter's existence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter.
  • It doesn't interact with light, making it invisible.
  • It constitutes over 25% of the universe.

Shownotes Transcript

Physics has a bit of a messy problem: There's matter missing in our universe. Something is there that we can't see but can detect! What could this mysterious substance be? A lot of astronomers are searching for the answer. And some, like theoretical particle physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein), think a hypothetical particle called the axion may make this problem a little ... tidier. That's right: hypothetical. Scientists have never seen one, and don't know if they exist. So today, we point our cosmic magnifying glasses towards the axion and ask how scientists could find one — and if it could be the neat solution physicists have been searching for. Help shape the future of Short Wave by taking our survey: npr.org/shortwavesurvey)*Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave).*Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)