German scientists are now arguing that dark matter is made up of tiny particles called axions. Scientists from the University of University of Wuppertal, Eötvös University in Budapest, and Forschungszentrum Jülich are working to discover what dark matter is made up of. By following the Standard Model of particle physics and using an advanced supercomputer, the group of researchers now have predictions about the consistency of dark matter.

Published in “Nature”, lead researcher Zoltán Fodor argues that dark matter is composed of several light particles called axions – a hypothetical subatomic particle that is believed to cause quantum anomalies. Researchers used a supercomputer to calculate the conditions that axions can exist in the universe. The results hypothesized that if dark matter is composed of axions, then the mass should be between 50 to 1500 micro-electronvolts, which is 10 billion times lighter than electrons.

Researchers involved in the study argue that the result of the experiment will open the door to additional dark matter research. “The results we are presenting will probably lead to a race to discover these particles,” says Fodor. Fodor asserts that we will soon be able to experimentally confirm or rule the existence of axions thanks to this prediction.

But what is dark matter? Dark matter is a type of matter that is theoretically found in approximately 27% of all mass and energy in the universe. Dark matter does not interact with light or other types of electromagnetic radiation, therefore making it invisible and to this day, dark matter has never been  directly observed. Essentially, dark matter is unlike any other matter in the observable universe.

However, dark matter does interact with gravity. Currently, theories suggest that dark matter is either so incredibly large or so incredibly small that it does not absorb or emit enough electromagnetic radiation.

It is important to point out that dark matter is currently a hypothesis. But, there have been several types of phenomenons that may only be explainable by the existence of dark matter. Astronomers report optical illusions such as abnormal acrs of light or galaxies with abnormal phyiscal properties, which could be explained by large clusters of dark matter in the foreground.In addition, last August scientists reported Dragonfly 44, which is an ultra diffuse galaxy – a galaxy with a large density but very little observable light – maybe consisted entirely of dark matter.

Scientists discover a structural similarity to human cells and stars.

Published in the Journal of “Physical Review C”, researchers found that the endoplasmic reticulum of human cells are structurally similar to structures found within and neutron stars. In fact, researchers call the structural similarities resemble multi-level parking garages.

Researchers Greg Huber and D.K. Berry analyzed the endoplasmic reticulum of human cells and compared it to the shapes of neutron stars. Scientists thought the neutron star structures were similar to organelles found inside human cells and using simulations, researchers found the same shapes found in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of human cells within the center of neutron stars.

Scientist refer to the inner working of neutron stars “Nuclear pasta” and researchers argue that the structural similarities illustrate how both systems have similar dynamic functions.

“These ramps may impact the thermal and electrical conductivities, viscosity, shear modulus, and breaking strain of neutron star crust. “

Researchers argue that the structural similarities demonstrate the biological importance of these shapes.

Greg Huber explained in the statement how nuclear force creates these parking garage structures. “For neutron stars, the strong nuclear force and the electromagnetic force create what is fundamentally a quantum-mechanical problem,” Huber explained.

“In the interior of cells, the forces that hold together membranes are fundamentally entropic and have to do with the minimization of the overall free energy of the system. At first glance, these couldn’t be more different.”

It is key to understand that the cell structures found within humans are about a nanometer in length, while the structures that form within neutron stars are even smaller. “Seeing very similar shapes in such strikingly different systems suggests that the energy of a system may depend on its shape in a simple and universal way,” co-author of the study Charles Horowitz explained in a statement.

This researchers illustrates how certain biological structures are similar to the stars in the sky.

The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of tubes found within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The function of the endoplasmic reticulum is to make and create proteins and lipids. While there are two types of Endoplasmic Reticulum, smooth and rough, the organelle is found in nearly every cell except red blood cells and sperm.