Scientist suggests possible link between primordial black holes and dark matter

phys.org

46 points·dnetesn··6 comments

How does this square with MACHO (non-)observations? [1]

> A MACHO may be detected when it passes in front of or nearly in front of a star and the MACHO's gravity bends the light, causing the star to appear brighter in an example of gravitational lensing known as gravitational microlensing. Several groups have searched for MACHOs by searching for the microlensing amplification of light. These groups have ruled out dark matter being explained by MACHOs with mass in the range 1×10−8 solar masses (0.3 lunar masses) to 100 solar masses.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_compact_halo_object

That's the first thing I thought of as well, although, it seems the suggested mass range is near the upper end of the excluded range.

Either way, the consensus cosmological model requires a non-baryonic component, which black holes don't provide.

Black holes do not carry baryon number [1] so as long as they were formed before nucleosynthesis that's not a problem.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-hair_theorem

I wish I had the knowledge to understand more, dark matter is so fascinating. I have a feeling that once we figure out what it is a lot of stuff in quantum physics is going to be easier to figure out.

Recommended watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PLIo

Thanks for this, any more videos you'd recommend?

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