Physicists analyzed the earliest light in the universe and detected dark matter from 12 billion years ago

The earliest detection of dark matter was 12 billion years ago.

In a new study, published Monday in the journal Physical Review Letters, scientists spotted dark matter, a substance that makes up the majority of all matter in the universe.

Yuichi Harikane, study co-author and assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, said that they were measuring dark matter for the first time. Things were very different 12 billion years ago. There are more galaxies that are in the process of forming than there are at the moment.

Astronomers can't directly detect dark matter because it doesn't emit light The effects of dark matter on visible matter can be observed.

NASA & ESA

Researchers used the same technique to measure distortions from the very first light. The radiation left over from the Big bang is known as the Cosmic Microwave Background. 1.5 million galaxies were selected to collectively serve as the gravitational lens. Researchers were able to reconstruct the distribution of dark matter by analyzing the distortions from the ancient residual light.

The dark matter from the early universe doesn't seem to be clumpy as physicists think.

Hironao Miyatake, co-author of the study, said in a press release that their finding is still uncertain. It would suggest that the model is flawed if it is true.

The model that may provide insight into the nature of dark matter could be improved if the result holds after the uncertainties are reduced.