Archive · 17 Jun 2025
Scientists Find Universe's 'Missing' Ordinary Matter
Scientists found the 'missing' ordinary matter in the universe.
Ordinary matter is what stars, planets, and us are made of.
They used radio waves from distant bursts to find it, hidden in gas between galaxies.
This gas is like a giant, wispy cloud.
About three-quarters of it is in this intergalactic space.
The scientists are now closer to understanding how all the matter is spread out in the universe.
Scientists have located previously 'missing' ordinary matter.
The matter is primarily found as thinly distributed gas between galaxies.
Researchers used fast radio bursts (FRBs) to detect and measure the matter.
Approximately 76% of ordinary matter resides in intergalactic space.
The study helps complete our understanding of ordinary matter distribution.
- Who
- Researchers, led by Liam Connor from Harvard University, made the discovery.
- What
- Scientists found previously unaccounted for ordinary matter.
- When
- The research was published on Monday.
- Where
- The matter is located in the intergalactic medium throughout the universe.
- Why
- To account for all ordinary matter and understand its distribution.
- Ordinary Matter
- Makes up about 15% of all matter
- Detection Method
- Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)
- FRB Source
- Likely highly magnetized neutron stars
- Matter Location (Intergalactic)
- ~76%
- Matter Location (Galaxy Halos)
- ~15%
- Matter Location (Galaxies)
- ~9%
