Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede Could Hold Clues to Elusive Dark Matter
Washington D.C. – Scientists are looking to jupiter’s moon Ganymede as a potential natural detector for collisions with dark matter particles. A new study, published on Arxiv, suggests the moon’s thick, ancient ice layer could preserve unique evidence of interactions with these mysterious substances that make up approximately 27 percent of the universe - substantially more than the 5 percent comprised of ordinary matter.
Dark matter, which does not emit or reflect light, has long been inferred by its gravitational effects on galaxies and galaxy groups. Despite numerous candidates ranging from axions to mini black holes, direct detection of dark matter particles has remained elusive.
Researchers propose that super-heavy dark matter particles impacting Ganymede at high speeds could create distinctive craters characterized by deep cracks,extensive melting,and the upwelling of minerals from the subsurface ocean. These features would be tough to explain through conventional impact events, perhaps serving as a “special sign of the interaction of dark material,” according to researcher Derocco.
Upcoming missions – NASA’s Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Juice – are equipped with advanced radar and spectral cameras designed to map Ganymede’s icy surface and subsurface in unprecedented detail. Scientists hope these instruments will identify unusual craters with small diameters but large melt volumes, offering potential evidence of dark matter interactions.
“The principle sounds promising, even though the existence of giant particles is still limited to hypotheses,” notes astrophysicist Bradley J. Kavanagh of the University of Cantabria.
While the idea remains speculative, the approach is gaining traction within the scientific community as a novel method for investigating the nature of dark matter. Data from the Europa Clipper and Juice missions, expected in the near future, will be crucial in determining whether Ganymede truly holds clues to this cosmic mystery.
(Source: Universe Space Tech,IFL Science)
