Mars' orbit could reveal all this, and if confirmed, we'll know more not only about ancient black holes, but also about the nature of dark matter.
Small black holes, which likely formed in the first moments after the Big Bang, may pass through our solar system every decade, a new study shows. Writes Science Alert. These so-called primordial black holes (PBH) – if they actually exist – could be the same as what we call dark matter – the mysterious substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe's mass, but is undetectable in the universe. In any way other than the effect of gravity.
PBHs are supposed to be very dense, with masses similar to those of asteroids, but concentrated to a single atomic volume. Although it is not directly visible, its gravitational effect can leave a mark. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have calculated that if such a black hole passed Mars about 450 million kilometers away, the planet would show a slight wobble in its orbit. This fluctuation will be small and will result in a displacement of about 1 meter over the course of a decade. However, the motion itself can be measured well, as we can follow Mars' position relative to Earth with an accuracy of up to 10 centimetres. If astronomers detect such a transition, it could be a sign of the PBH passing through our cosmic neighborhood.
The study's lead author, Tung Tran, began with a fun question: What would happen if an ancient black hole passed by someone? According to Tran's calculations, the black hole's gravitational force would be strong enough to push someone several meters away in one second, although such an encounter is extremely unlikely.
The researchers were also interested in how PBHs would affect planets and moons, so they created simulations of what would happen if such an object passed near Mercury, Venus, or Mars. A well-observed Mars orbit could be the most obvious “criminal sign” of such an event for the reasons detailed above.
It has also been suggested that similar effects could be caused by asteroids when they pass close to planets. However, PBHs move much faster than asteroids, traveling at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per second, making them easier to distinguish from those ordinary objects found in space.
Although the existence of PBHs has not yet been confirmed, according to the above, the discovery of Martian orbital fluctuations may be the key to solving one of the greatest mysteries of the universe – the nature of dark matter.
(Image: Artist's illustration of the primordial black hole (left) as it passes by Mars. Image credit: Benjamin Lehmann, courtesy of SpaceEngine @ Cosmographic Software LLC)
