Early in the universe’s history, there may have been stars powered by dark matter rather than conventional nuclear fusion. These stars, known as “dark stars”, could have been massive and sustained by the self-annihilation of dark matter particles. The concept was initially met with skepticism when Katherine Freese, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of Texas at Austin, first proposed it in 2007. Despite initial resistance, Freese and her colleagues have continued to refine the idea over the years.
Recent reports from Freese and her team suggest a potential sighting of unusual galaxies using a new telescope, raising the possibility that these objects may actually be singular dark stars. This idea has been met with controversy and doubt among other astronomers, but if dark stars do exist, they could provide evidence for a specific type of dark matter and offer insights into the mysterious origins of supermassive black holes that drive galactic evolution.
The exploration of dark stars and their potential connection to dark matter poses intriguing questions about the early universe and the forces that shaped its evolution.
