The gravitational influence of dark matter plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics and structure of galaxies. Dark matter clumps act as gravitational lenses, bending and distorting the light from background galaxies. By carefully measuring these distortions, astronomers can infer the presence and distribution of dark matter clumps.
Furthermore, the motions of stars and gas within a galaxy can also be affected by the presence of dark matter clumps. By studying the kinematics of these objects, astronomers can detect deviations from the expected motions that can be attributed to the gravitational influence of dark matter.
By combining these various techniques and analyzing substructure maps, astronomers have found strong evidence for the existence of dark matter clumps in galaxies. These clumps provide important insights into the nature of dark matter and its role in shaping the universe.