Crinkled arc

Imagine taking a piece of paper and folding it over and over again to create a series of small creases. These creases might start out straight, but as you continue to fold, they become curved and crinkled. That's essentially what a crinkled arc is – an area in space where the fabric of spacetime has been creased and distorted.

These distortions occur when massive objects like galaxies, black holes, or clusters of dark matter exert gravitational forces on the surrounding space. This warping of spacetime can cause light to bend and curve as it passes through the area, leading to the appearance of a crinkled or distorted arc.

Scientists study crinkled arcs because they can provide important insights into the nature and behavior of dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe's mass but cannot be directly observed. By studying the patterns of light contained within these arcs, researchers can learn more about the distribution and behavior of dark matter in the universe.