Astronomers find star-less galaxy

[Rockingham]

The existence of dark matter and dark energy is predicted by and essential to certain leading theories in physics, especially as to the nature of gravity. The present discovery matters because it provides the first observational support for the existence of dark matter.

Dark matter and dark energy are believed to be more common in the universe than the normal matter and energy that we can readily discern. Dark matter interacts with normal matter through the force of gravity, an effect that we can observe at cosmological distances.

Although dark matter and dark energy are nearly undetectable at present, physicists have been busy dreaming up experiments and observations designed to detect and understand them. The pace of those efforts will now accelerate, with scientific fame and Nobel prizes now plainly at stake. Discoveries yet to be made about dark matter and dark energy will radically change our understanding of physics, with future generations likely to marvel at our current ignorance.

[timer]

Yeah : starring Bruce Willis in THE FIFTH ELEMENT....a DARK GALAXY rushing toward earth...where is the heroine?

[Modernman]

Scientists believe that dark matter is, in many ways, like ordinary matter (everything you can see and touch and everything that has gravity-cars, people, cats, etc.) except that it does not emit light. That makes it incredibly hard to detect.

Could I put a piece of dark matter on my desk? If dark matter is so common, why haven't we found any of it on earth or in nearby space? I'm familiar with the concept of anti-matter, but it seems that, to a certain extent, dark matter is a lot less exotic.

[chronotrigger]

My thinking is that it had much to do with our lack of knowledge regarding gravitational forces, and how they propagate, relate and affect other stellar bodies. Are they instantaneous, or does it have characteristics of speed as does light.

So, they came up with a temporary answer to the question and blame it on dark stuff.

That's possible. Before scientists understood how light worked, they came up with a mysterious substance called "ether" to explain it. Later, when they understood light better, they realized that ether did not exist and that it was just a crock.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Can it get the avian flu too?

[Cold Heat]

'Zactly!

[tfecw]

hmm...thats a good question. It could be the darkmatter is exotic on earth. Dark energy could be here and we just not know it.

As for near by space. I think the detection tools used prevent that right now. Basically they learned about the concept by watching entire galaxies spin around. I guess it exist right around us (in the solar system) but just not be detectable because there isn't enough to be detectable.

I dunno though, I just know what it is :) not how to debate with it.

[GreenHornet]

Astronomers say they have discovered an object that appears to be an invisible galaxy made almost entirely of dark matter.

The astronomers later backed away from this claim, after they realized they had forgotten to remove the lens cap on their telescope.

[theFIRMbss]

>Astronomers say they have discovered an object that appears to be an invisible galaxy made almost entirely of dark matter

Oh, yeah, right. These guys are just sitting in their domes, laughing, drinking beer, goading each other, to see who can come up silly announcments! "I've got one!" Joe says. "Announce that we've photographed Wonder Woman's plane!"

[pabianice]

A "dark" galaxy is an area in the Universe containing a large amount of mass that rotates like a galaxy, but contains no stars.\

Sounds racist to me...

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

The astronomers later backed away from this claim, after they realized they had forgotten to remove the lens cap on their telescope.

Gads. I knew there was something funny about this story.

[chronotrigger]

Could I put a piece of dark matter on my desk? If dark matter is so common, why haven't we found any of it on earth or in nearby space? I'm familiar with the concept of anti-matter, but it seems that, to a certain extent, dark matter is a lot less exotic.

I'm not sure if you could put it on your desk- it may already be there but you just can't see it.

Here's something that is fairly exotic about dark matter. According to normal physics, the stars orbiting around the center of the galaxy should be moving much more quickly than the one around the edges. But contrary to that, the stars around the edges of the milky way galaxy are moving at nearly the same speed as those orbiting near the center. This implies that dark matter is (or was) somehow all around us-giving extra gravity to things in the galaxy.

Dark matter may already be on you desk, you just cant detect it.

[Professional Engineer]

bttt

[chronotrigger]

Could I put a piece of dark matter on my desk? If dark matter is so common, why haven't we found any of it on earth or in nearby space? I'm familiar with the concept of anti-matter, but it seems that, to a certain extent, dark matter is a lot less exotic.

I'm not sure if you could put it on your desk- it may already be there but you just can't see it.

Here's something that is fairly exotic about dark matter. According to normal physics, the stars orbiting around the center of the galaxy should be moving much more quickly than the one around the edges. But contrary to that, the stars around the edges of the milky way galaxy are moving at nearly the same speed as those orbiting near the center. This implies that dark matter is (or was) somehow all around us-giving extra gravity to things in the galaxy.

Dark matter may already be on you desk, you just cant detect it.

[SalukiLawyer]

I'm not sure if you could put it on your desk- it may already be there but you just can't see it.

Oh, yeah, I've got a lot of that stuff on my desk: faxes, letters, notes. I know it's there but I just can't find it.

But seriously, folks, is it something exotic or just something that's dark, instead of shiny? If there were a bunch of rocks floating around without stars, we wouldn't be able to see those, either, without reflected light, would we?

[P.O.E.]

It's where all the missing socks end up...

[Miles the Slasher]

A "starless galaxy"? Isn't that a bit like a treeless forest?

[Miles the Slasher]

A "starless galaxy"? Isn't that a bit like a treeless forest?

[OSHA]

"Dark matter may already be on you desk, you just cant detect it."

It can't be seen but if it affects gravity it must have mass. Weigh your desk, then give it a good cleaning and weigh it again quickly before any more DM can settle on it. (Even if you fail to detect any DM you *will* have a clean desk!)

[Mycroft Holmes]

The best explanation I have heard of dark matter is that it consists of plank-length black holes formed during the inflationary stage of the big bang. It's everywhere and pretty much undetectable except for its gravatational effects. YMMY

regards,