The Digital Press

Astronomers have used fast radio bursts (FRBs) to detect and locate the universe’s previously missing ordinary matter, revealing where it resides between and around galaxies. This discovery confirms long-standing predictions about the distribution of normal matter in the cosmos.

Why it matters: It solves the mystery of half the universe’s ordinary matter, improving understanding of cosmic structure and galaxy formation.

The big picture: FRBs act as cosmic flashlights, allowing scientists to weigh diffuse gas that was too faint to see before.

Stunning stat: 76% of normal matter lies in the intergalactic medium, 15% in galaxy halos, and the rest in galaxies themselves.

Commenters say: Some question the interpretation of dark matter as fact versus hypothesis and discuss the physics behind light dispersion through matter.