2006-08-26 14:37:56 · 8 answers · asked by Adam 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
BOSTON (Reuters) - A team of U.S. scientists has found the first direct evidence of the existence of "dark matter," a little-understood substance with a huge influence on gravity, the team's leader said on Tuesday.
2006-08-26 14:56:15 · answer #1 · answered by cybrog 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
U.S scientists have found the first direct evidence of the existence of “dark matter”, a little-understood substance with a huge influence on gravity, the team’s leader said on Tuesday. Scientists still do not know what exactly dark matter is, but have theorised it must exist to account for the amount of gravity needed to hold the universe together. They estimate that the substance accounts for 80 to 90% of the matter in the universe. The more familiar kind of matter, which can be seen and felt, makes up the rest.
Now researchers led by University of Arizona astronomer Doug Clowe say they have evidence to back up their theories. Using orbiting telescopes, the researchers watched two giant gas clouds in outer space collide over a 100-hour period. As the clouds clashed, they said, the visible gas particles slowed, pulling away from the invisible dark matter particles. The researchers said they could detect the dark matter particles by their gravitational pull on the surrounding visible particles. “This is the first time we’ve been able to show that (dark matter) has to be out there, that you can’t explain it away,” Clowe said. “We haven’t actually been able to see the dark matter particles themselves, but what we have been able to do is … image the gravity that they’re generating.”
Some sceptics have argued that dark matter does not exist. They assert that scientists err in assuming that gravity exerts the same pull whether holding a plate on a table or influencing the travel of stars. Revising the laws of gravity at the interstellar scale would better explain the universe’s structure, they argue.
The latest research is scheduled to be published in an upcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
2006-08-27 00:03:56 · answer #2 · answered by spaceprt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not. We conclude the existence of what we call dark matter because we can not account for 90% of the weight of the universe. (it is actually matter that defeats all human senses so far) Calling it Dark matter proves the shortcoming of languages and the inaccuracy inherent in the human understanding, i.e our limitations; some of it.
2006-08-26 22:02:11 · answer #3 · answered by Pyramider 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. There's no experiential way to realize it exists. Only through theory. At least so far...who knows what the future may bring
2006-08-26 21:40:51 · answer #4 · answered by Xanther 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, because if it was tangible, scientists would have information about it.
2006-08-26 21:45:36 · answer #5 · answered by ___ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi. Yes. It's gravity is felt by other objects but no visible light is emitted (as far as we know).
2006-08-26 21:40:42 · answer #6 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No... it's not even real. You know what is real though? some other force. We are all made of.... electrons!!!
Hell yes, we orbit this main atom called 'the sun' a.k.a. the nucleus.
2006-08-26 21:44:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
not only am i tangible, im delicious, im finger licking good, uh at least my boyfriend thinks so
2006-08-26 21:40:45 · answer #8 · answered by darkangel1111 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋