The Digital Press

Astronomers have discovered a massive filament of hot gas connecting four galaxy clusters, potentially containing the Universe's long-sought "missing" normal matter. This finding closely matches cosmic simulations and helps validate models of the large-scale structure of the Universe.

Why it matters: The filament may account for over one-third of the Universe’s "missing" ordinary matter, solving a decades-old cosmic mystery.

The big picture: The discovery illuminates the cosmic web structure, showing how galaxy clusters connect across vast distances through filaments of hot gas.

Quick takeaway: Combining XMM-Newton and Suzaku X-ray data allowed precise isolation and characterization of this 23-million-light-year-long filament.

Commenters say: Many highlight the importance of multi-telescope collaboration and praise confirmation of cosmic web theories, while some discuss challenges in detecting faint cosmic structures.