Near the center of our galaxy, there are some unusually young stars that scientists have been unable to explain their existence. A new study proposes that these stars might not be as young as they appear, but rather maintain their “youthful” appearance by absorbing dark matter.
The core of the Milky Way, known as the Galactic Center, is a mysterious region where a supermassive black hole resides, constantly devouring interstellar matter; supernovae also eject captured stars towards the edges of the galaxy. The intense celestial activities in this region have led to many enigmas.
For instance, there are these abnormal young stars present there. According to computer simulations, scientists argue that the Galactic Center should not host these young stars, as the region is not conducive for nurturing new stars.
Now, a group of scientists has proposed an intriguing possibility: these seemingly young stars in that region may actually be much older in reality, sustaining their youthful appearance by continuously drawing nutrients from dark matter. A report by technology media Live Science likened it to “adding fuel to a burning furnace constantly.”
A research collaboration between scientists from Stanford University and Stockholm University in Sweden put forth this new theory. The study claims that these stars exhibit “spectral features of mature stars.” The research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was published on May 20 on the preprint server arXiv.
The study draws a remarkable conclusion: a mysterious force is keeping these stars “forever young,” as the research report phrases it.
Other scientists have their own theories on this matter. One theory suggests that some stars are pushed towards the vicinity of the Galactic Center, triggering the birth of new stars in the process.
One of the lead researchers of this new report, Isabelle John, a doctoral student from Stockholm University, told Live Science that she and her colleagues are exploring the possible connection to dark matter.
Their simulated systems suggest that these stars might not be as young as they appear, as they absorb dark matter around them to maintain their vibrant appearance.
The gravity of these stars captures dark matter particles, and their theory suggests that these particles collide and annihilate within the stars, converting into regular particles and releasing substantial energy.
The researchers believe that this additional energy stabilizes the stars, possibly allowing them to remain “forever young.” Typical stars reach the end of their lives after depleting their internal nuclear fuel, leading to collapse or various scenarios like supernova explosions. However, these stars, with the extra energy, could maintain a stable state over a prolonged period.
John wrote in an email to Live Science, “The outward pressure balances the inward pressure from gravity, maintaining the star in a stable state.”
The study mentions that more data from advanced space telescopes in the future will help verify the accuracy of their model, hoping to ultimately unravel the mystery.