For decades, dark matter has been one of the biggest mysteries in physics. We cannot see it, but we can see how it pulls on stars and galaxies. Now, scientists studying a faint glow of gamma rays near the center of our Milky Way say the signal could indicate that dark matter particles are colliding and producing light. This new analysis, reported in mid-October 2025, raises the chances that we have finally found indirect evidence of dark matter.
A mysterious excess of gamma rays in the middle of the Milky Way may come from dark matter particles smashing into one another and annihilating https://t.co/JGneVrFxjK
— New Scientist (@newscientist) October 16, 2025
For decades, dark matter has been one of the biggest mysteries in physics. We cannot see it, but we can see how it pulls on stars and galaxies. Now, scientists studying a faint glow of gamma rays near the center of our Milky Way say the signal could indicate that dark matter particles are colliding and producing light. This new analysis, reported in mid-October 2025, raises the chances that we have finally found indirect evidence of dark matter.
The glow was mapped using data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Researchers performed large simulations that include the history of our galaxy, such as how smaller galaxies merged into the Milky Way long ago. When they compared their simulated maps to the real gamma-ray glow, they found a good match. This match suggests that the excess light might come from dark matter particles colliding and annihilating each other, creating gamma rays we can detect.
There is another explanation. Some compact stars, known as millisecond pulsars, can also produce gamma rays. These pulsars are old neutron stars that spin very fast and are recognized for shining in gamma rays. Distinguishing emissions from many faint pulsars and a smooth glow from dark matter is challenging. The new research shows that the dark matter idea fits the data at least as well as the pulsar idea. While that does not prove dark matter exists, it increases the odds
The glow was mapped using data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Researchers performed large simulations that include the history of our galaxy, such as how smaller galaxies merged into the Milky Way long ago. When they compared their simulated maps to the real gamma-ray glow, they found a good match. This match suggests that the excess light might come from dark matter particles colliding and annihilating each other, creating gamma rays we can detect.
There is another explanation. Some compact stars, known as millisecond pulsars, can also produce gamma rays. These pulsars are old neutron stars that spin very fast and are recognized for shining in gamma rays. Distinguishing emissions from many faint pulsars and a smooth glow from dark matter is challenging. The new research shows that the dark matter idea fits the data at least as well as the pulsar idea. While that does not prove dark matter exists, it increases the odds.
A mysterious excess of gamma rays in the middle of the Milky Way may come from dark matter particles smashing into one another and annihilating https://t.co/JGneVrFxjK
— New Scientist (@newscientist) October 16, 2025
Why is this important?
Finding evidence of dark matter particles would be a major breakthrough. Dark matter makes up about 27 percent of the universe, but we still do not know what it consists of. Direct detection experiments on Earth have not yet identified dark matter particles. This is why astronomers look for indirect signals in space. If gamma rays indicate dark matter, it would guide particle physicists on where to search and what experiments to conduct.
The researchers say that the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) could help determine which idea is correct. CTA will be a powerful ground-based observatory for gamma rays. It will be better at observing how gamma rays vary over small angles and how they change with energy. This detailed information may reveal patterns that indicate pulsars or particle annihilation. CTA should begin science operations soon, so more data will be available in the next few years.
The study used new computer simulations. Earlier models sometimes overlooked aspects of the galaxy’s formation history. The new simulations included more realistic mergers and how dark matter clumps might move and group in the center. This is important because how dark matter gathered over time changes the gamma-ray patterns we expect. By matching histories, the team strengthened their argument.
Scientists are careful and cautious. They emphasize that the current result is not a final detection. The glow still has other possible explanations, and measurement uncertainties persist. However, the paper advances the conversation. It shows that improved models and better telescopes can bridge the gap between theory and observation. If confirmed, this finding would connect astronomy and particle physics in a significant way.
What happens next?
Teams will examine the same area using different instruments and methods. They will search for small point sources that would support the pulsar idea. They will also check whether the gamma rays exhibit the expected energy spectrum for particle annihilation. Particle physicists will use these results to refine their insights about dark matter mass and interaction type.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been monitoring the sky for over a decade and has built a detailed map of high-energy emissions. Gamma rays are the highest-energy form of light, generated in the most extreme events in the cosmos, from black hole jets to exploding stars. If dark matter particles annihilate, they should produce gamma rays as well, but the signal is weak and mixed with many other sources. This is why careful mapping and realistic simulations are essential.
The team that reported this result used supercomputers to model how the Milky Way formed and how dark matter might be distributed today. They incorporated the effects of galaxy mergers and the sinking of matter toward the center. These steps changed predictions for where and how strong any dark matter signal should be. By making their models more realistic, they were able to test whether the gamma-ray glow matched a dark matter origin better than it matched a group of faint pulsars.
