A new study has proposed that tiny, ancient black holes, known as primordial black holes (PBHs), could zip through our solar system once every decade. These minuscule black holes, potentially created in the first second after the Big Bang, are so small they pack the mass of an asteroid into a space no larger than a single atom. Though invisible to us, their gravitational effects could be detected perhaps by tracking subtle changes in the orbits of nearby planets like Mars.
PBHs are a leading candidate to explain dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe’s mass but doesn’t interact with light. The study, conducted by physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), calculates that PBHs could pass through the inner solar system at a high speed, around 200 kilometers per second, from any direction.
Detecting a PBH: A Martian Wobble
The researchers suggest that while we can’t directly see PBHs, their gravitational influence could cause detectable wobbles in the orbits of planets like Mars. If a PBH came within about 450 million kilometers (280 million miles) of Mars, the planet’s orbit would shift by approximately 1 meter over 10 years a small but measurable amount using modern technology.
Mars is closely monitored by astronomers, and its distance from Earth can be measured with precision down to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches). This makes it an ideal candidate to detect such minute changes in its orbit caused by a PBH.
Comparing PBHs to Asteroids
The study addresses the possibility of confusion between PBHs and passing asteroids, as both could exert gravitational forces on planets. However, the difference lies in how they move. Asteroids tend to move slowly and follow predictable orbits in the same plane as the planets, while PBHs zip through the solar system at high speeds from any direction, creating a distinct and short-lived gravitational influence.
Implications for Dark Matter
If astronomers were to observe such a Martian wobble caused by a PBH, it could be groundbreaking evidence in the hunt for dark matter. PBHs have long been speculated as a possible source of dark matter, and proving their existence could provide crucial insights into one of the biggest mysteries of the cosmos.
While more simulations and studies are needed to refine the details, this research paves the way for a potential method of indirectly detecting PBHs and possibly unlocking new understanding of the universe’s hidden mass.
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