Engineering News Blog

Engineering News

Latest news of interest to engineers. Sourced from GlobalSpec's Engineering News

Previous in Blog: Sensors Based on Photonic Crystals   Next in Blog: Symptoms: Metabolic Syndrome is Tied to Diet Soda
Close
Close
Close
8 comments
Rate Comments: Nested

New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

Posted February 11, 2008 8:43 AM

From SPACE.com:

The two biggest mysteries in cosmology may be one. A new theory says that dark matter and dark energy could arise from a single dark fluid that permeates the whole universe. And this could mean Earth-based dark matter searches will come up empty. Dark matter, as originally hypothesized, is extra hidden mass that astrophysicists calculate is necessary for holding together fast-turning galaxies. The most popular notion is that this matter is made of some yet-to-be-identified particle that has almost no interactions with light or ordinary matter. Yet it seems to be everywhere, acting as a scaffolding for galaxy clusters and the whole structure of the universe.

Read the whole article

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru
United States - US - Statue of Liberty - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Gone to Alabama with my banjo on my knee...
Posts: 5595
Good Answers: 20
#1

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/12/2008 4:05 PM

I am curious - a mathematically derived potential solution, or an observable phenomenon? I realize the term "single dark fluid" is a term of convenience, but how exactly should we interpret this?

__________________
Veni, vidi, video - I came, I saw, I got it on film.
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member Popular Science - Genetics - New Member Popular Science - Biology - New Member

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Nevernever as much as possible, Earth when I have no choice.
Posts: 665
Good Answers: 11
#2

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/12/2008 11:36 PM

Possibly the "dark fluid" is similar in effect to the felt effect of rotating a spinning gyroscope. The effect is felt with no obvious physical connection.

Just a poor metaphor of course but an interesting thought form.

Dragon

__________________
Ignorance is the beginning of knowledge. Heresy is the beginning of wisdom. The ignorant heretic is the wisest of all.
Reply
Guru
Hobbies - Model Rocketry - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: East of Seattle, Washington state Republic of the 50 states of America
Posts: 2045
Good Answers: 36
#3

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/13/2008 12:12 AM

So what should it be called Darth Vader force?

If the Theory works better than the status quo we'll use it, if not maybe it will give someone an idea of a better one.

Brad

__________________
(Larrabee's Law) Half of everything you hear in a classroom is crap. Education is figuring out which half is which.
Reply
Guru
Panama - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Engineering Fields - Marine Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Panama
Posts: 4273
Good Answers: 213
#4

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/13/2008 8:15 PM

This fluid wouldn't happened to be called "aether" (or some other spelling variant)? I thought Michaelson and Morley already addressed that one. Of course, they had pretty limited equipment...

Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member Popular Science - Genetics - New Member Popular Science - Biology - New Member

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Nevernever as much as possible, Earth when I have no choice.
Posts: 665
Good Answers: 11
#5
In reply to #4

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/13/2008 11:37 PM

Cwarner7 11, You might not want to get the aether argument started again. I did in a discussion of "Warp drive coming soon?" and it went on for weeks. Many told me that I was just short of delusional, until I pointed out that St. Albert also thought that some of his equations would work better if there was an aether.

It seems that old is new again.

Dragon

__________________
Ignorance is the beginning of knowledge. Heresy is the beginning of wisdom. The ignorant heretic is the wisest of all.
Reply
Guru
New Zealand - Member - Interested in everything- see my Profile please APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - Member Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Member Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - Member Engineering Fields - Civil Engineering - Member Hobbies - Musician - Autoharp and Harmonica Hobbies - Hunting - Member Hobbies - Fishing - Member

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Christchurch, (The Garden City), South Island, New Zealand
Posts: 4395
Good Answers: 230
#6

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/16/2008 7:57 PM

The single dark fluid is a sort of cosmic ink.

So there you are, now you know.

Kind Regards....

__________________
"The number of inventions increases faster than the need for them at the time" - SparkY
Reply
Guru
Hobbies - Model Rocketry - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: East of Seattle, Washington state Republic of the 50 states of America
Posts: 2045
Good Answers: 36
#7
In reply to #6

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/16/2008 8:43 PM

The writings in the stars (Foxfur nebula)

Brad

__________________
(Larrabee's Law) Half of everything you hear in a classroom is crap. Education is figuring out which half is which.
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member Popular Science - Genetics - New Member Popular Science - Biology - New Member

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Nevernever as much as possible, Earth when I have no choice.
Posts: 665
Good Answers: 11
#8
In reply to #7

Re: New Cosmic Theory Unites Dark Forces

02/16/2008 11:17 PM

UV, Beautiful picture. reminds me of home.

Dragon

__________________
Ignorance is the beginning of knowledge. Heresy is the beginning of wisdom. The ignorant heretic is the wisest of all.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Reply to Blog Entry 8 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

cwarner7_11 (1); Dragonsfarm (3); EnviroMan (1); Sparkstation (1); U V (2)

Previous in Blog: Sensors Based on Photonic Crystals   Next in Blog: Symptoms: Metabolic Syndrome is Tied to Diet Soda
You might be interested in: Scaffolding, Platforms and Walkways, Nails

Advertisement