Can stars near the center of the Milky Way exist forever thanks to energy from dark matter? A new hypothesis has been proposed by astronomers based on observations of strange luminous sources.
Scientists have long believed that all stars will eventually fade away. However, a recent study of the S-cluster, located just three light-years from the center of the Milky Way, indicates otherwise. This star cluster is much younger than other stars in the same region, and they do not resemble stars that have migrated here after forming elsewhere.
Even more surprising is that this area contains some unusually massive stars, while the number of older stars is lower than expected. The research team, led by astrophysicist Isabelle John from the Kavli Institute for Astronomy, suggests that these strange stars may be absorbing dark matter and using it as fuel to continue their activity.
Dark matter is believed to make up about 27% of the universe, but has yet to be directly observed.
“Star formation models suggest that stars cannot form within 0.326 light-years from the central black hole, where the S-cluster stars are found,” the research team wrote. “Instead, stars must form elsewhere and migrate towards the Galactic Center. In contrast, observations show that the stars in this area are young [less than or approximately 15 million years old], indicating that the stars may have formed more locally.”
Dark matter is thought to account for about 27% of the universe, yet it has not been directly observed. Astronomers can only infer its existence through its effects on other objects, from distant stars to massive galaxy clusters. Although it cannot be seen, the gravitational effects of dark matter are quite evident.
This new study is not the first to explore the relationship between dark matter and stars. Earlier this year, another group of researchers proposed that neutron stars – the remnants of extremely dense stars – may actually be the source of dark matter. Last July, another team suggested that the James Webb Space Telescope had discovered stars powered by dark matter.
The hypothesis of “immortal” stars powered by dark matter, if proven correct, would revolutionize our understanding of the universe. It also raises an intriguing question: Are there forms of life out there that exist based on the infinite energy source provided by dark matter?
To test their hypothesis, the research team constructed a dark matter version of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, based on the luminosity and effective temperature of the stars. In this diagram, stars believed to absorb dark matter have lower temperatures compared to ordinary stars but exhibit similar brightness. “The dark matter density in these stars is continuously replenished, allowing them to persist and explaining many anomalous phenomena related to stars,” the team wrote.
This research is still in its early stages and requires further validation by the scientific community. Scientists hope that next-generation telescopes, with enhanced observation capabilities, will help us better understand the mysteries of dark matter and its role in the universe.
