A Quantum Leap in Cosmology!

Researchers from The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have just cracked one of the universe's biggest mysteries: the notorious "missing baryon problem." In a groundbreaking series of papers published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, a team led by Dr. Massimiliano "Max" Bonamente has unveiled where the elusive baryonic matter—that makes up about five percent of our universe—has been hiding since the Big Bang!

Where Are All the Baryons?

Baryons, primarily protons and neutrons, form the visible matter in the universe. Despite their significant theoretical presence, a considerable portion of these particles has remained undetected. Researchers have long grappled with a massive discrepancy between observable baryons and predictions from cosmological models.

Bonamente and his team, including recent graduate Dr. David Spence, utilized X-ray emissions from quasars to pinpoint that these missing baryons reside in the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). This intriguing form of matter, characterized by low density and high temperatures, plays a crucial role in the cosmic web of filaments and structures connecting galaxies.

Decoding the Cosmic Puzzle