Tiny Black holes May Be Evidence of Dark Matter, Threatening Planets Like Jupiter
BERLIN – New research suggests that primordial black holes, far smaller than previously detected, could constitute a significant portion of dark matter and pose a threat to gas giant planets like Jupiter.Physicists propose these minuscule black holes,potentially formed in the early universe,could accumulate within planets,gradually heating their cores and ultimately leading to their destruction.
While dark matter remains one of the universe’s biggest mysteries, this study offers a potential detection method and a surprising consequence. The research focuses on black holes with masses substantially less than that of our sun – down to planetary sizes – and suggests they would be most abundant in regions with high dark matter concentrations, such as the center of the Milky Way. Detecting these tiny black holes could not only confirm their existence but also reveal insights into the nature of dark matter itself.
The theoretical work, led by researchers at the University of Vienna, details how these primordial black holes could be identified by observing their impact on planetary bodies. According to physicist Khutso Phoroutan-more, the accumulated dark matter within a planet could generate detectable heat, potentially observable on exoplanets and even within our own solar system using advanced technologies.
so far, discovered black holes have been substantially larger, typically possessing masses many times that of the sun. These newly proposed black holes would be drastically smaller, making their detection a significant challenge. However, the potential for observing their effects on planetary temperatures offers a promising avenue for investigation.
