NASA | Turning Black Holes into Dark Matter Labs

The video explores the mysterious nature of dark matter, which constitutes 27% of the universe but remains largely unknown. It discusses how dark matter interacts primarily through gravity and may have shaped the cosmos. Black holes, with their extreme gravity, are considered potential laboratories for studying dark matter models, particularly weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). The video highlights Jeremy Schnittman's simulations, which show how dark matter particles near spinning black holes can produce gamma rays. The ultimate goal is to detect dark matter annihilation around supermassive black holes, offering insights into these elusive cosmic phenomena.

What percentage of the cosmos is made up of dark matter?

• 73%

• 50%

• 27%

• 10%

What is the leading model for dark matter particles?

• Quarks

• WIMPs

• Photons

• Neutrinos

Why is the probability of WIMP annihilation higher near supermassive black holes?

• Due to the presence of more stars

• Because of increased temperature

• Because of the presence of strong magnetic fields

• Due to higher density of dark matter

What is the ergo sphere in the context of black holes?

• The center of a black hole

• The outermost layer of a black hole

• A zone where particles must move with the black hole's spin

• A region where light cannot escape

What factor strongly influences the peak energy of escaping gamma rays from a black hole?

• The temperature of the black hole

• The rotation of the black hole

• The size of the black hole

• The distance from the black hole