"dark stars" theory could solve universe's greatest mystery

The theory of "dark stars" proposes that the first stars in the universe were massive, invisible entities formed from dark matter, potentially providing insights into the elusive nature of dark matter itself. These stars, theorized to be composed of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), would not undergo nuclear fusion like ordinary stars but could still emit heat through dark matter interactions. This concept may also explain the rapid formation of large black holes in the early universe, which could have originated from the collapse of WIMP stars. Recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified three distant objects that might be dark stars rather than galaxies, although distinguishing them requires advanced spectroscopy techniques. Meanwhile, interest is growing in axions, another potential dark matter candidate, which could form axion stars that are stable yet difficult to detect. These axion stars might explode in a phenomenon called a "bosenova," producing low-energy photons detectable by future radio telescopes like the Square Kilometre Array. This research could significantly advance our understanding of dark matter and the early universe.

- The "dark stars" theory suggests the first stars were formed from dark matter.

- WIMP stars could explain the existence of large black holes in the early universe.

- Recent observations may have identified potential dark stars using the James Webb Space Telescope.

- Axions are emerging as a promising dark matter candidate, potentially forming axion stars.

- Future radio telescopes like the Square Kilometre Array may help detect evidence of axion stars.