NASA's new WISE Survey Results (and dark matter)

In summary, NASA's recent survey has revealed the detection of many new stellar objects, including 2/3 super-massive black holes that were previously unknown. This discovery adds a significant amount of mass to our understanding of the universe. However, the effects of this on dark matter are still unclear, as the location of these black holes is uncertain. It is believed that the small amount of mass that black holes make up will not significantly impact the upper bound limit of baryonic matter in the universe or the equations of dark matter.
  • #1
d3mm
140
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NASA yesterday on the 29th published a survey in which they claimed the detection of many new stellar objects. The press release continues to say this includes super-massive black holes 2/3 of which were previously undiscovered.

This is a lot more mass than we previously knew existed. What are the effects of this on dark matter?

http://phys.org/news/2012-08-wise-survey-uncovers-millions-black.html

EDIT The location of these black holes is unclear. I have (perhaps naively) ignored the new galaxies since dark matter is concentrated in a halo around a galaxy and thus should not be affected, but what is the location of the black holes?
 
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  • #2
d3mm said:
NASA yesterday on the 29th published a survey in which they claimed the detection of many new stellar objects. The press release continues to say this includes super-massive black holes 2/3 of which were previously undiscovered.

This is a lot more mass than we previously knew existed. What are the effects of this on dark matter?

http://phys.org/news/2012-08-wise-survey-uncovers-millions-black.html

EDIT The location of these black holes is unclear. I have (perhaps naively) ignored the new galaxies since dark matter is concentrated in a halo around a galaxy and thus should not be affected, but what is the location of the black holes?
None. Black holes make up a tiny, tiny fraction of the mass of the visible matter. The typical supermassive black hole is less than a couple percent, sometimes less than a fraction of a percent of its host galaxy.
 
  • #3
Also as far as I am aware, there is an upper bound limit on the number of baryonic matter in the universe, which is where dark matter comes in.

So even if we start to discover a lot more matter out there (ie black holes), it still won't effect this upper bound limit, and still won't effect the equations of dark matter.
 

1. What is the WISE survey and what are its main objectives?

The WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) is a NASA space telescope designed to map the entire sky in infrared wavelengths. Its main objectives include finding and characterizing potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, discovering new galaxies and brown dwarfs, and studying the properties of dark matter and dark energy.

2. What are the recent findings from the WISE survey regarding dark matter?

The latest findings from the WISE survey suggest that dark matter is spread out more uniformly in space than previously thought. This means that it is not as clumpy as predicted by some theories, and may have a smoother distribution throughout the universe.

3. How does the WISE survey help in understanding dark matter?

The WISE survey uses infrared light to detect objects that are not visible in other wavelengths, such as brown dwarfs and dust-obscured galaxies. This allows scientists to map the distribution of dark matter in the universe and study its effects on the formation and evolution of galaxies.

4. What is the significance of the WISE survey results for future space missions?

The WISE survey results provide valuable insights into the nature of dark matter and its role in the universe. This information can inform the design and objectives of future space missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, to further study and understand dark matter.

5. How do the WISE survey results impact our understanding of the universe?

The WISE survey results contribute to our understanding of the composition and evolution of the universe. By providing a more accurate map of dark matter, scientists can better understand the role it plays in shaping the structure of the universe and its overall behavior.

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