Hidden star systems in the Milky Way could unlock the secrets of dark matter

Researchers have solved the mystery of globular clusters using high-resolution simulations that trace the universe's entire history. The University of Surrey-led study revealed multiple formation pathways for these dense star collections and discovered a new class of "globular cluster-like dwarfs" that contain significant dark matter unlike regular clusters. These previously unrecognized objects, which may include Milky Way satellite Reticulum II, could provide crucial sites for studying dark matter and searching for the universe's earliest stars.