Science

'Ghostly' Galaxies and the Mystery of Dark Matter

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Based on the episode description, not a full transcript. Source evidence retrieved 20/10/2026, 10:52:24 UTC.

Briefings

Astronomers identified three 'ghostly' galaxies (DF2, DF4, DF9) discovered in 2018 using Keck Observatory in Hawaii. These galaxies are dimmer than the Milky Way and contain 200 times fewer stars, yet they exist along a specific line. Host Samir Patel and writer Robin George Andrews discuss these findings on The Quanta Podcast, which covers science and math questions. The discovery challenges current understanding of dark matter distribution.

Key points

• Three 'ghostly' galaxies (DF2, DF4, DF9) were discovered in 2018 using Keck Observatory in Hawaii.
• These galaxies are dimmer than the Milky Way and contain 200 times fewer stars.

Context

The Quanta Podcast hosts Samir Patel and Robin George Andrews explore the mystery of dark matter through the discovery of these three galaxies along a specific line.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to the 2018 discovery of DF2, DF4, and DF9. No additional background on dark matter or the specific line configuration is supplied.

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