10 seconds to solve dark matter? UC Berkeley says it’s possible but will need a...
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Ten Seconds
The mystery of dark matter could be solved in just 10 seconds during a nearby supernova, UC Berkeley researchers predict.
Axion Hunt
Astrophysicists propose detecting axions, hypothetical particles that may explain dark matter, in the gamma-ray bursts of collapsing stars.
Missed Chance
Benjamin Safdi warns, “It would be a shame if a supernova went off tomorrow and we missed the chance to detect axions.”
Galactic Fleet
The GALAXIS project proposes a global gamma-ray satellite system to monitor the entire sky for axion signals during stellar explosions.
Magnetic Conversion
In strong magnetic fields, axions could decay into photons, creating detectable bursts of gamma rays near neutron stars.
Physics Jackpot
Axions could solve the strong CP problem, unlock string theory insights, and explain the matter-antimatter imbalance.
Simulation Insights
New simulations suggest the best time to detect axions is during the first 10 seconds of a supernova.
Fermi’s Role
The Fermi Telescope currently monitors for gamma rays but has only a 1 in 10 chance of catching the next supernova.
Published Hypothesis
The study, published in Physical Review Letters, outlines a strategy to finally confirm or rule out axions’ existence.