Mysterious invisible walls may have been discovered in outer space

Scientists believe that in space, a "fifth force" is at work. The invisible walls in space are created by this force, which they believe is mediated by a hypothetical particle called a symmetron.

 

The walls are not always the same as the walls of a room. Instead, they function as obstacles. And they could be able to explain a mysterious section of space that has astronomers puzzled for a long time.

 

A new discovery could explain why astronomers have been baffled for years by "invisible walls in space."

 

An image of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy as captured by the DECam. Image source: NOIRLab

The current accepted model for explaining cosmology is the Lambda cold dark matter (CDM) hypothesis. However, there is one intriguing issue with this concept, and it doesn't always add up.

 

Small galaxies should be dispersed in chaotic orbits around larger galaxies, according to that idea. Most minor galaxies that orbit larger galaxies, on the other hand, are structured in thin flat planes. These planes, or discs, are reminiscent to Saturn's rings. It's almost as though the galaxies are arranged along an unseen wall in space.

 

These "satellites," as astronomers call them, can be found in synchronised orbits all around our galaxy. They've also been seen in nearby galaxies, according to astronomers. Scientists have offered numerous theories to explain the "satellite disc problem" over the years.

 

However, a new study by University of Nottingham researchers proposes a different type of explanation for these intangible spatial barriers. The research is presently available on the arXiv preprint server.

 

A new physics explanation

The star cluster NGC 1805 as imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. Image source: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Kalirai

The researchers believe their findings lead to a first possible "new physics" explanation that does not entirely eliminate dark matter. Dark matter, which accounts for the majority of the mass in the universe, has proven to be one of the cosmos's greatest mysteries. As a result, it has played a significant role in these types of studies.

 

Unlike previous research, this new study shows that hypothetical particles called symmetrons could create intangible space boundaries. These "domain walls," as astronomers call them, are what keep galaxies in their precise orbits. Instead of orbiting in a jumbled way, as the CDM model predicts, the galaxies orbit in a neat pattern.

 

According to the experts, there is a 50/50 possibility that various locations will use different symmetrons values. This could explain the disparities between the smaller galaxies that orbit some larger galaxies.

 

This is, of course, only a proof of concept. We'll need to prove symmetrons exist if we're going to prove there are invisible walls in space. This is where space telescopes like the James Webb come into play. They may be able to educate us more about these new particles and the organisation they bring to the universe as they observe areas of the early universe.

Reference; Arxiv Preprint