In a special quantum state — a Bose–Einstein condensate — atoms stop being 'individualists' and merge into a single quantum wave, like droplets of mercury gathering into a single ball. On Earth, this is only achieved at temperatures billionths of a degree above absolute zero. But physicists have figured out: in space, extreme gravity and the curvature of spacetime can create similar conditions without any cold, because curvature shifts the threshold at which particles 'freeze' into a common rhythm.

Calculations show that inside neutron stars and near black holes, matter naturally falls into this clumped state. And if dark matter consists of ultra-light particles — axions — then it forms giant quantum blobs throughout the Universe. This solves a long-standing puzzle: according to standard theories, dark matter should pile up at the centers of galaxies, but observations reveal a smoother distribution. Its quantum nature keeps it from clumping together.