Globular clusters reveal dark matter's hidden scaffolding in galaxy clusters

Globular clusters scattered around galaxy clusters can serve as tracers of underlying dark matter. Using a statistical method based on spatial point processes, researchers found that the distribution of bright globular clusters in Abell 2744 correlates strongly with predicted mass maps from multiple sources, with agreement coefficients exceeding 0.7. Notably, blue globular clusters match weak-lensing mass maps as closely as that technique does, suggesting they could provide independent constraints on dark matter distribution across the universe's history.