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?

What is the leading particle physics model for dark matter?

How do wimps interact with the universe?

What happens to dark matter particles near a supermassive black hole?

What is Schnittman's ultimate ambition regarding dark matter?