A new study by scientists suggests that the planets in the solar system might be growing dark matter, called "beard", Tech Times reports.
The new study was published in the Astrophysical Journal.
The study has proposed that there are long filaments of dark matter, called "hairs", existing and growing from Earth.
Charles Lawrence, chief scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's astronomy, physics and technology directorate, said that dark matter had been studied for over 30 years, but had still evaded investigation of any worth. Experiments are ongoing to find out the real nature of the dark matter from space or the deep underground of the planet.
"The roots of dark matter hairs would be an attractive place to look, given how dense they are thought to be," he said.
The dark matter constitutes an estimated 27 percent of all matter and energy found in the universe. It is believed to be a factor in the growth of the expanding universe.
The dark matter cannot interact through the electromagnetic force, does not move around that much, does not emit nor interact with light and has a gravitational pull in action.
Galaxies are believed to form due to fluctuations in dark matter density.
Study author Gary Prézeau said, "When gravity interacts with the cold dark matter gas during galaxy formation, all particles within a stream continue traveling at the same velocity".
Prézeau is hopeful that they can gather data about the dark matter when they are able to find out where the root of the hairs is located. The information can be used for scientific endeavors such as mapping out the layers of planetary bodies and investigating the oceanic depths on icy moons.
