Physicists at the Perimeter Institute have developed a new simulation method to study self-interacting dark matter, a type of dark matter that collides with itself but not with ordinary matter, potentially leading to dramatic collapses within dark matter halos. This research, unveiled on January 19, 2026, offers a new perspective on how these collisions could heat and densify the cores of dark matter halos, influencing galaxy formation and possibly even seeding black holes.

For almost a century, dark matter has been a significant enigma in cosmology, its presence inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter. The new simulation addresses a critical gap in understanding the behavior of self-interacting dark matter, which was previously difficult to model accurately. According to researchers at the Perimeter Institute, the new code makes these simulations faster, more precise, and accessible, even allowing them to be run on a standard laptop.

The simulation allows scientists to explore the "middle ground" of dark matter behavior, where interactions are neither too weak to have an effect nor so strong as to be easily modeled. By simulating these interactions, researchers can observe how dark matter particles collide and transfer energy, leading to the collapse of dark matter halos. This collapse heats the core of the halo, increasing its density and potentially influencing the formation of galaxies within it.

The implications of this research extend to our understanding of the universe's large-scale structure and the formation of celestial objects. If self-interacting dark matter can indeed trigger the collapse of dark matter halos, it could explain certain observed properties of galaxies that are difficult to reconcile with standard dark matter models. Furthermore, the increased density in the halo cores could provide the necessary conditions for the formation of supermassive black holes, a long-standing puzzle in astrophysics.

The development of this new simulation code represents a significant advancement in the field of dark matter research. By providing a more accurate and accessible tool for modeling self-interacting dark matter, it opens up new avenues for exploring the nature of this mysterious substance and its role in shaping the cosmos. Future research will likely focus on refining the simulation and comparing its predictions with observational data to further test the self-interacting dark matter hypothesis.