Space & Astronomy

Dark matter could turn giant planets into tiny black holes

By T.K. Randall
August 31, 2025

Image: Extrasolar Planet
Credit: (PD) NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech The precise nature of dark matter and dark energy, which are thought to account for up to 96% of the observable universe, remains one of the most important unsolved mysteries in modern physics.

Despite concerted efforts, astronomers have been unable to observe dark matter directly because it does not absorb, emit or reflect any electromagnetic radiation, thus making it impossible to see.

Now, scientists have highlighted a particularly disturbing (though potentially very helpful) consequence of dark matter - the complete collapse of a giant planet into a black hole.

According to one theoretical model, dark matter can potentially accumulate in the core of a large planet and cause it to collapse into a tiny black hole that would then feed on the surrounding material.If such an object could be found, it would help to prove dark matter's existence once and for all.

"If the dark matter particles are heavy enough and don't annihilate, they may eventually collapse into a tiny black hole," astrophysicist Mehrdad Phoroutan-Mehr told Science Alert.

"This black hole could then grow and consume the entire planet, turning it into a black hole with the same mass as the original planet."

"This outcome is only possible under the superheavy non-annihilating dark matter model."

Source: Science Alert

Tags: Dark Matter