Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed a new way to investigate dark matter by studying faint radio waves from the Universe’s earliest era, known as the cosmic dark ages.
Their research suggests that clumps of dark matter pulled in hydrogen gas, triggering emissions of radio waves that may still be detectable today.
Dark Matter’s Hidden Hand in the Cosmic Dark Ages
For the first time, scientists at Tel Aviv University have predicted what could be revealed by detecting ancient radio waves still traveling through space from the early Universe. Their findings indicate that during the cosmic dark ages, dark matter gathered into dense clusters that drew in hydrogen gas. This interaction caused the gas to emit powerful radio signals, offering a new way to investigate the hidden nature of dark matter through these faint cosmic echoes.
The study, led by Prof. Rennan Barkana of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, included Ph.D. student Sudipta Sikder and researchers from Japan, India, and the United Kingdom. The team’s conclusions were recently published in Nature Astronomy.
Why the Moon May Be the Perfect Radio Observatory
The scientists explain that the cosmic dark ages (the period before the first stars were born) can be explored by capturing the radio waves emitted by hydrogen gas that filled the Universe at that time. Although ordinary antennas easily detect radio signals, the specific wavelengths from this early era are blocked by Earth’s atmosphere. To capture them, instruments must be placed in space—especially on the moon, which offers an undisturbed environment free from atmospheric and human-made interference.
Building a lunar radio telescope would be a major technological challenge, but growing global interest in lunar exploration makes it increasingly feasible. The United States, Europe, China, and India are all preparing new missions involving probes and astronauts, and each space agency is seeking meaningful scientific goals for future lunar bases. This new study highlights one of the most promising: detecting the radio signals left over from the cosmic dark ages.
Probing the Unseen: Clues Hidden in Hydrogen’s Glow
Prof. Barkana explains: “NASA’s new James Webb space telescope discovered recently distant galaxies whose light we receive from early galaxies, around 300 million years after the Big Bang. Our new research studies an even earlier and more mysterious era: the cosmic dark ages, only 100 million years after the Big Bang.
“Computer simulations predict that dark matter throughout the Universe was forming dense clumps, which would later help form the first stars and galaxies. The predicted size of these nuggets depends on, and thus can help illuminate, the unknown properties of dark matter, but they cannot be seen directly. However, these dark matter clumps pulled in hydrogen gas and caused it to emit stronger radio waves. We predict that the cumulative effect of all this can be detected with radio antennas that measure the average radio intensity on the sky.”
Tuning Into the Universe’s First Signals
This radio signal from the cosmic dark ages should be relatively weak, but if the observational challenges can be overcome, it will open new avenues for testing the nature of dark matter.
When the first stars formed a short time later, in the period known as cosmic dawn, their starlight is predicted to have strongly amplified the radio wave signal. The signal from this later era should be easier to observe, and this can be done using telescopes on Earth, but the radio measurements will be more challenging to interpret, given the influence of star formation with all of its complexity.
In this case, though, a great deal of complementary information is potentially available from large radio telescope arrays that will attempt to produce a complete map of the radio waves on the sky, looking for patterns of strong and weak emission that should also reveal the presence of the same dark matter clumps. Prof. Barkana is part of the largest such international collaboration, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which includes a massive array of 80,000 radio antennas currently being rolled out in Australia.
A New Window Into the Mysteries of Dark Matter
The researchers assess that the findings may be very significant for the scientific understanding of dark matter. In the present Universe, dark matter has had billions of years to interact with stars and galaxies, making it more difficult to decode its properties. In contrast, the pristine conditions in the early Universe offer a potentially perfect laboratory for astrophysicists.
Prof. Barkana concludes: “Just as old radio stations are being replaced with newer technology that brings forth websites and podcasts, astronomers are expanding the reach of radio astronomy. When scientists open a new observational window, surprising discoveries usually result. The holy grail of physics is to discover the properties of dark matter, the mysterious substance that we know constitutes most of the matter in the Universe, yet we do not know much about its nature and properties. Understandably, astronomers are eager to start tuning into the cosmic radio channels of the early Universe.”
Explore Further:
- Ghostly Radio Glow From the Cosmic Dark Ages May Expose Dark Matter
- Lunar Radio Telescopes Could Finally Reveal the Secrets of Dark Matter
Reference: “The signature of subgalactic dark matter clumping in the global 21-cm signal of hydrogen” by Hyunbae Park, Rennan Barkana, Naoki Yoshida, Sudipta Sikder, Rajesh Mondal and Anastasia Fialkov, 16 September 2025, Nature Astronomy.
DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02637-0
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3 Comments
Simulations can make fools of the unwary – b-e-c-a-u-s-e, you are simulating an idea formulated before you had the benefit of understanding.
concept>Sketch>Model> Test>Revise>Scale>Deploy>Trouble Shoot>Improve
Simulations are interventions along this process
B Memo 2511041420_Source 1. Reinterpretation Storytelling 【】
Source 1.
https://scitechdaily.com/ancient-radio-signals-could-reveal-what-dark-matter-really-is/
1.
Ancient Radio Signals Could Reveal the True Identity of Dark Matter
Faint radio echoes from the universe’s dark ages may hold the key to uncovering the true nature of dark matter.
Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed a new method for investigating dark matter by studying faint radio waves from the universe’s early days, the Dark Ages.
Their research suggests that clumps of dark matter attracted hydrogen gas, triggering radio emissions that are still detectable today.
1-1. The Hidden Hand of Dark Matter in the Cosmic Dark Ages
Scientists at Tel Aviv University have for the first time predicted what could be revealed by detecting ancient radio waves propagating across the universe in the early universe.
Their findings suggest that dark matter formed dense clusters that attracted hydrogen gas during the Cosmic Dark Ages.
The period immediately following the Big Bang is considered a Dark Age because spacetime was not yet fully illuminated due to the oss.inverse_neutralization.zerisum of the first [element hydrogen (uud/3=1p, ddu/3=n):1e].
>>>Do all those who illuminate the world receive Nobel Prizes? No. The corrupted Nobel Prize system seems to be abusing the bookseller’s side, creating elaborate justifications for literary awards and handing out awards to employees of online search engines without any sense of purpose. I propose abolishing the Nobel Prize.
>>>>There must be a reason why Google’s search engine company, with its seemingly far-sighted approach to scientific achievements, recently monopolized the Nobel Prize in Science. Science is also an information game. Whoever obtains information faster can exploit the enemy’s weaknesses and achieve their goal faster. Google’s trivialization of the Nobel Prize is also in this context. No one at Google respects Nobel laureates anymore. Information hunters stronger than Googol will emerge…haha.
Therefore, I hope the Googlers return their Nobel Prizes. Hmm.
]
_These interactions caused the gas to emit a powerful radio signal, and these faint cosmic echoes offer a new way to probe the hidden nature of dark matter.
1-2.
_The research, led by Professor Renan Barkhana of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Department of Physics and Astronomy, included PhD student Sudipta Sikder and researchers from Japan, India, and the UK. The research team’s conclusions were recently published in Nature Astronomy.
2. Why the Moon Could Be the Perfect Radio Observatory
Scientists explain that the cosmic dark ages (the period before the birth of the first stars) can be explored by detecting radio waves emitted by the hydrogen gas that filled the universe at the time.
While conventional antennas can easily detect radio signals, certain wavelengths from this early period are blocked by Earth’s atmosphere. Capturing these radio waves requires placing equipment in space, particularly on the Moon, which offers a pristine environment free from atmosphere and artificial interference.
Building a lunar radio telescope is a significant technical challenge, but with growing global interest in lunar exploration, its feasibility is becoming increasingly feasible.
The United States, Europe, China, and India are all preparing new missions involving probes and astronauts, and each space agency is seeking meaningful scientific objectives for a future lunar base. This new study highlights one of the most promising goals: detecting radio signals, remnants of the cosmic dark ages.
2-1. Exploring the Unseen: Clues Hidden in the Light of Hydrogen
Professor Barkana explains: NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope recently discovered distant galaxies whose light we are receiving came from the very first galaxies, about 300 million years after the Big Bang. Our new study studies the universe’s Dark Ages, an even older and more mysterious era, just 100 million years after the Big Bang.
Computer simulations suggest that dark matter throughout the universe formed dense clumps,
which may have later contributed to the formation of the first stars and galaxies. The predicted sizes of these clumps could help reveal unknown properties of dark matter, but they cannot be directly observed.
However, these clumps of dark matter attracted hydrogen gas, emitting more intense radio waves. We predict that the cumulative effect of all this could be detected using radio antennas that measure the average radio intensity in the sky.
2-2. Listening to the Universe’s First Signals
These radio signals from the universe’s Dark Ages are expected to be relatively weak, but if we can overcome the observational challenges, we can test the nature of dark matter. This will open new avenues for exploration.
_Soon after, during what is known as the dawn of the universe, when the first stars formed, starlight is expected to have strongly amplified radio signals.
_Signals from this period will be easier to observe and can be observed using Earth-based telescopes. However, given the complex effects of star formation, radio measurements will be more difficult to interpret.
【The early cosmic light (msbase.electron.a) in deep space will be strong. However, given the complex effects of multiple star formations later on, radio measurements will be more difficult to interpret, making it difficult to find the original light from the early universe.
>>>However, according to sample 1, the pure light electromagnetic wave channel (msbase.numbers.intrinsic mass array) has a chiral, hand-symmetric structure, so pure light is likely to be preserved at least later.
Sample 1. If the starlight was intense or unique, it would not have lost its rotational freedom. Uh-huh.
sample1.
msbase12.qpeoms.2square.vector
oms.vix.a’6,vixx.a(b1,g3,k3,o5,n6)
b0acfd|0000e0
000ac0|f00bde
0c0fab|000e0d
e00d0c|0b0fa0
f000e0|b0dac0
d0f000|cae0b0
0b000f|0ead0c
0deb00|ac000f
ced0ba|00f000
a0b00e|0dc0f0
0ace00|df000b
0f00d0|e0bc0a
】
3.
_But in this case, we need to create a complete map of the radio sky, find the strong and weak emission patterns, and confirm the existence of the same dark matter clump. A significant amount of complementary information could be obtained through a large-scale radio telescope array capable of revealing the universe’s radio signals.
Professor Barkhana is involved in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the largest of these international collaborations, which includes a massive array of 80,000 radio antennas currently under construction in Australia.
3-1. A New Window into the Mysteries of Dark Matter
The researchers believe this discovery will be crucial for the scientific understanding of dark matter. In the present universe, dark matter has interacted with stars and galaxies for billions of years, making its properties more difficult to interpret.
In contrast, the pristine state of the early universe potentially provides astrophysicists with a perfect laboratory.
Professor Barkhana concluded, “Just as old radio stations are being replaced by new technologies that enable websites and podcasts, astronomers are expanding the realm of radio astronomy.
When scientists open new observational windows, surprising discoveries often follow. The Holy Grail of physics is discovering the properties of dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up the vast majority of matter in the universe, yet whose nature and properties remain largely unknown.
It’s only natural that astronomers would begin tuning into the cosmic radio channels of the early universe.