From improving our understanding of dark matter to revealing the location of Earth 2.0, the Extremely Large Telescope promises answers to some of the biggest scientific questions of our time.
Artist concept of Gravity Probe B orbiting the Earth to measure space-time, a four-dimensional description of the universe including height, width, length, and time.
(NASA)
The gravitational field can affect space and time: the stronger gravity is, the slower time moves. This prediction of General Relativity can be used to reveal hidden forces acting on dark matter.
As new and powerful telescopes gather new data about the universe, they reveal the limits of older theories.
(Shutterstock)
Einstein’s theory of general relativity suggests that our universe originated in a Big Bang. But black holes, and their gravitational forces, challenge the limits of Einstein’s work.
The inside of the LZ outer detector. The LZ is a super sensitive machine that may one day detect a dark matter particle.
Matt Kapust, SURF
To detect dark matter, you need to build an ultra-sensitive detector and put it somewhere ultra-quiet. For one physics collaboration, that place is almost a mile under Lead, S.D.
For decades physicists have argued over the nature of the elusive dark matter that pervades the Universe. A clever new study uses gravitational lensing to bring new evidence to the debate.
LST-1 prototype in La Palma, Spain.
Tomohiro Inada/CTA
The most energetic events in the universe shower us with unbelievably energetic particles of light. Capturing these can help us to solve some enticing cosmic mysteries.
A comparison of star-forming galaxies suggests, surprisingly, that dark matter and visible matter do interact – taking us closer to understanding what keeps the galaxies together.
The James Webb Space Telescope is set to launch into orbit in December 2021. Its mission is to search for the first light to ever shine in the universe.
It can stretch your mind to ponder what’s really out there.
Stijn Dijkstra/EyeEm via Getty Images