Astronomers Map Over 1 Million Quasars to Trace Dark Matter in the Universe

Using data from the Gaia space telescope, scientists have created the largest-ever 3D map of the universe, revealing the distribution of dark matter.

The map, derived from the positions of almost 1.3 million quasars, offers unprecedented insights into the universe's structure and the distribution of dark matter.
Quasars, powered by supermassive black holes, serve as markers for mapping dark matter, as they are often located within dense clumps of this invisible material.
The Quaia catalog, combining data from Gaia and other sources, enables precise measurements of matter clustering in the early universe.
Comparisons with the cosmic microwave background (CMB) confirm the map's accuracy in reflecting the universe's matter distribution.
This groundbreaking map is expected to advance our understanding of cosmic evolution and aid in the study of dark matter.