When NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope begins science operations in 2027, it will utilize a space-bending effect first predicted by Einstein back in 1916 in an attempt to unravel one of science's greatest enigmas: the nature of dark matter.

The phenomenon in question is known as "gravitational lensing." According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, objects of significant mass distort the fabric of space-time, causing light from background sources to curve as it passes through these cosmic "dents."

A recent study suggests that Roman's observations could reveal around 160,000 gravitational lenses, with approximately 500 of them being ideal for studying dark matter, the universe's most mysterious substance.

Dark matter remains a puzzle for scientists as it constitutes about 85% of the matter in the universe, yet its composition is largely unknown. The fact that dark matter does not interact with light poses a challenge in understanding its nature.

Despite not directly interacting with light, dark matter can affect it through the force of gravity. This allows dark matter to play a role in gravitational lensing, where light from a background source is curved by a massive object like a galaxy.

Gravitational lensing can result in magnified and distorted images of background galaxies, providing insights into the distribution of dark matter within the lensing galaxy. Roman's Wide Field Instrument, equipped with a 300-megapixel camera, will enable researchers to study these gravitational lenses with unprecedented precision.

By detecting smaller clumps of dark matter, Roman could help scientists understand how galaxies formed in the early universe. The telescope's high-resolution images will not only increase the quantity of gravitational lenses observed but also enhance the quality of data obtained.

Roman's advanced capabilities are expected to push the boundaries of dark matter research, offering new opportunities to explore the particle nature of this elusive substance.

Source: Space