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Dark matter hunt yields unexplained signal
BBC ^ | 06/17/2020 | Paul Rincon

Posted on 06/18/2020 8:33:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Scientists working on the Xenon1T experiment have detected more activity within their detector than they would otherwise expect.

There are three potential explanations for the new signal from the Xenon1T experiment. Two require new physics to explain, while one of them is consistent with a hypothesised dark matter particle called a solar axion.

There are several theories to account for what that particle might be like. The most favoured one has been the WIMP, or Weakly Interacting Massive Particle.

Physicists working on the Xenon series of experiments have spent more than a decade hunting for signs of these WIMPs.

...

Its detector was filled with 3.2 tonnes of ultra-pure liquefied xenon, two tonnes of which served as a "target" for interactions between the xenon atoms and other particles that were passing through.

Most of these interactions - also known as events - are with particles we already know about, such as muons, cosmic rays and neutrinos. This constitutes what scientists refer to as the background signal

A potential signal from an undiscovered particle needs to be strong enough to rise above this background noise.

Scientists carefully estimated the number of background events in Xenon1T. They expected to see roughly 232, but the experiment instead saw 285 - an excess of 53 events.

...

...[T]he excess is most consistent with a signal from solar axions, a very light as-yet undetected particle, which is also a dark matter candidate

In statistical terms, the solar axion hypothesis has a significance of 3.5 sigma.

While this significance is fairly high, it is not large enough to conclude that axions exist. Five sigma is generally the accepted threshold for a discovery.

The significance of both the tritium and neutrino magnetic moment hypotheses corresponds to 3.2 sigma, meaning that they are also consistent with the data.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; darkenergy; darkforce; darkmatter; fivesigma; neutrinos; science; solaraxion; speedofdark; stringtheory; tritium; xenon1t
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1 posted on 06/18/2020 8:33:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: SunkenCiv

ping


2 posted on 06/18/2020 8:33:52 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

They translated the signal already!

“We have been trying to reach the owner of the space vehicle about your extended warranty.”


3 posted on 06/18/2020 8:39:22 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: BenLurkin

Scientists would do better searching for intelligent life here on Earth.


4 posted on 06/18/2020 8:42:41 AM PDT by NTHockey (My rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: Jewbacca

I would have thought it had to do with whatever passes for a Google interstellar and the business account not being active.


5 posted on 06/18/2020 8:45:16 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: NTHockey

No need look in Washington DC ... none there.


6 posted on 06/18/2020 8:45:46 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: BenLurkin

I’m sorry but in today’s political climate the term “DARK matter” is racist and no longer can be used. ;-)


7 posted on 06/18/2020 8:47:19 AM PDT by House Atreides (It is not a HOAX but it IS CERTAINLY A PRETEXT.)
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To: BenLurkin
The signal is an extraterrestrial map marker around our planet that said when translated:

"Avoid these idiots! Don't reply to their messages. Just ignore them and let them think they are the only life in the Universe. They'll probably destroy themselves in a few years anyway"

8 posted on 06/18/2020 8:49:08 AM PDT by apillar
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To: All

The dark matter is between their ears.


9 posted on 06/18/2020 8:51:13 AM PDT by bennowens
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To: Rurudyne

Funny, I see some there. It’s exists but the signal is extremely weak.


10 posted on 06/18/2020 9:00:16 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: BenLurkin

Amazing how much they have to make up each year to “explain” things.


11 posted on 06/18/2020 9:01:19 AM PDT by NoLibZone (BLM Ltd. Concern is limited to those black lives that can be used to generate revenue and power.)
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To: House Atreides

“I’m sorry but in today’s political climate the term “DARK matter” is racist and no longer can be used. ;-)”

And there are the BLACK HOLES.


12 posted on 06/18/2020 9:14:33 AM PDT by cymbeline
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To: NoLibZone
"Amazing how much they have to make up each year to “explain” things."

Yeah, creating theories and experiments is way too cutting edge. We should go back to the good old days of the middle ages.

13 posted on 06/18/2020 9:22:15 AM PDT by mlo
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To: BenLurkin

Dark Matter Lives


14 posted on 06/18/2020 9:28:19 AM PDT by beethovenfan (Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin)
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To: BenLurkin

“Two require new physics to explain”
If one observation destroys the whole science of physics, then the science of physics was founded on an uncertain basis and is worth nothing.


15 posted on 06/18/2020 10:08:08 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Never forget Justine Damond, murdered by a NON-WHITE, NON-CHRISTIAN cop. (Oh, and no riots))
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To: 6SJ7; AdmSmith; AFPhys; Arkinsaw; allmost; aristotleman; autumnraine; bajabaja; ...
Thanks BenLurkin.

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16 posted on 06/18/2020 10:28:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: BenLurkin

It’s an anomaly.

“I hate anomalies. They give me a headache.” — Captain Janeway


17 posted on 06/18/2020 10:29:47 AM PDT by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
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To: I want the USA back

It doesn’t destroy physics! Very poor choice of words by the writer. If the observation bares up to more scrutiny there will be an addition to “particle physics theory” and be reconciled with the current model. Maybe it will be so profound a new model is needed. Even then the old model is not destroyed it’s absorbed into the “greater model”. For example Newton is not “destroyed” it’s a subset of Einstein.


18 posted on 06/18/2020 10:49:13 AM PDT by Reily
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To: BenLurkin

We will never know as much as we don’t know.


19 posted on 06/18/2020 10:50:42 AM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Kill a Commie for your Mommy.)
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To: BenLurkin
Physicists working on the Xenon series of experiments have spent more than a decade hunting for signs of these WIMPs.

They should check out the GOP. Lots of WIMPs there.

20 posted on 06/18/2020 11:43:00 AM PDT by Islander7 (There is no septic system so vile, so filthy, the left won't drink from to further their agenda)
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