摘要：Dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up 85 percent of the universe’s mass, may do more than shape galaxies.
Dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up 85 percent of the universe’s mass, may do more than shape galaxies.
暗物质，这种构成宇宙质量85%的不可见物质，可能不仅仅是在塑造星系。
A new study suggests it could also gather inside giant planets and collapse into black holes, devouring those worlds from within.
一项新研究表明，它还可能聚集在巨行星内部并坍缩成黑洞，从内部吞噬这些星球。
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside modeled how “superheavy, non-annihilating” dark matter particles might drift into the cores of gas giants like Jupiter.
加州大学河滨分校的研究人员建立了模型，探讨“超重、不湮灭”的暗物质粒子如何可能漂移进入像木星这样的气态巨行星核心。
Unlike other dark matter candidates, these particles wouldn’t destroy each other on contact.
与其他暗物质候选粒子不同，这些粒子在接触时不会相互湮灭。
Instead, over time, they would clump together until dense enough to collapse into a tiny black hole.
相反，随着时间推移，它们会逐渐聚集，直到足够致密，从而坍缩成一个微小的黑洞。
In some cases, the black hole could stabilize, but in others, it might grow until the entire planet was consumed, leaving behind a black hole with the same mass as the planet.
在某些情况下，这个黑洞可能会稳定下来，但在其他情况下，它可能会不断增长，直到吞噬整个行星，留下一个与行星质量相同的黑洞。
The study, published in Physical Review D, shows that such planetary black holes could form on observable timescales and even multiple times during a planet’s lifetime.
这项发表在《物理评论D》上的研究显示，这种行星黑洞可能在可观测的时间尺度上形成，甚至在一颗行星的生命期内多次形成。
Detecting one would be a breakthrough: so far, astronomers have only confirmed black holes more massive than the Sun.
探测到这样的黑洞将是一项突破：迄今为止，天文学家只确认过质量比太阳更大的黑洞。
Finding a planet-sized black hole would challenge the prevailing idea that such objects could only form in the early universe as primordial relics.
发现一个行星大小的黑洞将挑战现有观点，即此类天体只能在早期宇宙中作为原初遗迹形成。
These scenarios are most likely near the Milky Way’s center, where dark matter density is highest.
这种情况最有可能出现在银河系中心附近，那里的暗物质密度最高。
If confirmed, exoplanets could act as natural laboratories for testing dark matter models, complementing traditional searches in stars and neutron stars.
如果得到证实，系外行星可以充当测试暗物质模型的天然实验室，补充在恒星和中子星中的传统搜索。
Current instruments lack the sensitivity to detect the faint heating or radiation such processes might produce, but future telescopes could.
当前的仪器缺乏探测这种过程可能产生的微弱加热或辐射的灵敏度，但未来的望远镜可能可以。
The prospect is unsettling, but Earth is safe—our solar system sits far from the galactic center.
这一前景令人不安，但地球是安全的——我们的太阳系远离银河系中心。
Still, the possibility that unseen particles could one day turn planets into black holes underscores how little we know about the dark matter shaping the cosmos.
然而，这种看不见的粒子有朝一日可能将行星变成黑洞的可能性，再次凸显了我们对塑造宇宙的暗物质知之甚少。
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精选词汇
【substance】/ˈsʌbstəns/ n. A particular kind of matter with uniform properties. 物质；实质
例句：The scientist analyzed the mysterious substance found in the rock.
科学家分析了岩石中发现的神秘物质。
【collapse】/kəˈlæps/ v. To fall down or cave in; to fail suddenly. 坍塌；崩溃
例句：The old building collapsed after the earthquake.
那座老楼在地震后倒塌了。
【devour】/dɪˈvaʊər/ v. To eat up greedily or consume destructively. 吞噬；毁灭
例句：The flames quickly devoured the entire forest.
火焰迅速吞噬了整片森林。
【annihilate】/əˈnaɪəleɪt/ v. To destroy completely. 毁灭；湮灭
例句：The powerful explosion annihilated everything in its path.
强大的爆炸摧毁了沿途的一切。
【drift】/drɪft/ v. To move slowly and aimlessly. 漂移；漂流
例句：The boat drifted down the river without an oar.
小船在没有桨的情况下顺流漂动。
【clump】/klʌmp/ v. To form into a compact group. 聚集；凝结
例句：Snowflakes clumped together on the windowpane.
雪花在窗玻璃上聚成一团。
【stabilize】/ˈsteɪbəlaɪz/ v. To make or become stable. 稳定；使平稳
例句：The medication helped stabilize the patient’s condition.
药物帮助稳定了病人的病情。
【consume】/kənˈsjuːm/ v. To use up or destroy. 消耗；吞噬
例句：The wildfire consumed thousands of acres of land.
野火吞噬了数千英亩土地。
【observable】/əbˈzɜːrvəbl/ adj. Able to be noticed or measured. 可观察的
例句：The star showed observable changes in brightness.
这颗恒星在亮度上显示出可观测的变化。
【timescale】/ˈtaɪmskeɪl/ n. A period during which something happens. 时间尺度
例句：Climate change operates on a much longer timescale than human history.
气候变化发生在比人类历史长得多的时间尺度上。
【breakthrough】/ˈbreɪkˌθruː/ n. A sudden and important advance. 突破；重大进展
例句：The new treatment represents a major breakthrough in cancer research.
这种新疗法代表了癌症研究的一大突破。
【prevailing】/prɪˈveɪlɪŋ/ adj. Widely existing or accepted. 流行的；普遍的
例句：The prevailing opinion was against the new law.
普遍的观点反对这项新法律。
【primordial】/praɪˈmɔːrdiəl/ adj. Existing from the beginning of time. 原始的；太古的
例句：The scientist studied primordial rocks from Earth’s early history.
科学家研究了来自地球早期的原始岩石。
【relic】/ˈrɛlɪk/ n. An object surviving from an earlier time. 遗迹；遗物
例句：The ruins are relics of an ancient civilization.
这些废墟是古代文明的遗迹。
【scenario】/sɪˈnɛərioʊ/ n. A possible sequence of events. 情景；设想
例句：The worst-case scenario would be total system failure.
最坏的情况是系统彻底崩溃。
【density】/ˈdɛnsəti/ n. The degree of compactness of a substance. 密度
例句：The scientist measured the density of the liquid.
科学家测量了液体的密度。
【exoplanet】/ˈɛksoʊˌplænɪt/ n. A planet outside the solar system. 系外行星
例句：Astronomers discovered an Earth-like exoplanet orbiting a distant star.
天文学家发现了一颗绕遥远恒星运行的类地系外行星。
【complement】/ˈkɑːmplɪˌmɛnt/ v. To complete or enhance something. 补充；增强
例句：The wine perfectly complements the meal.
这款酒与这顿饭相得益彰。
【sensitivity】/ˌsɛnsəˈtɪvəti/ n. The ability to detect or respond to stimuli. 灵敏度
例句：The new equipment increased the sensitivity of the experiment.
新设备提高了实验的灵敏度。
【radiation】/ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/ n. The emission of energy as waves or particles. 辐射
例句：Excessive radiation exposure can be harmful to humans.
过度的辐射暴露可能对人体有害。
【prospect】/ˈprɑːspɛkt/ n. The possibility of some future event. 前景；可能性
例句：The prospect of peace brought hope to the region.
和平的前景给该地区带来了希望。
【unsettling】/ʌnˈsɛtlɪŋ/ adj. Disturbing or causing anxiety. 令人不安的
例句：The doctor’s words had an unsettling effect on the patient.
医生的话让病人感到不安。
【underscore】/ˌʌndərˈskɔːr/ v. To emphasize. 强调；突显
例句：The report underscored the importance of safety measures.
报告强调了安全措施的重要性。
【cosmos】/ˈkɑːzməs/ n. The universe seen as a well-ordered whole. 宇宙
例句：Philosophers have long debated humanity’s place in the cosmos.
哲学家长期以来一直讨论人类在宇宙中的位置。
【invisible】/ɪnˈvɪzəbl/ adj. Not able to be seen. 无形的；不可见的
例句：Air is invisible to the naked eye.
空气对肉眼来说是不可见的。
【giant】/ˈdʒaɪənt/ adj. Very large. 巨大的
例句：A giant wave crashed onto the shore.
一个巨浪拍打在岸边。
【candidate】/ˈkændɪˌdeɪt/ n. A person or thing considered for a role. 候选人；候选物
例句：This drug is a strong candidate for treating the disease.
这种药物是治疗该疾病的有力候选。
【planetary】/ˈplænɪˌtɛri/ adj. Relating to planets. 行星的
例句：The probe is studying planetary atmospheres.
探测器正在研究行星大气。
【confirm】/kənˈfɜːrm/ v. To establish the truth of something. 确认；证实
例句：The experiment confirmed the scientist’s hypothesis.
实验验证了科学家的假设。
【massive】/ˈmæsɪv/ adj. Large and heavy. 巨大的；庞大的
例句：A massive stone wall surrounded the castle.
一堵巨大的石墙环绕着城堡。
来源：纵观世界Max2023