Theory Posits Early Stars Powered By Dark Matter 115
ethericalzen writes "A BBC article highlights a theory that the first stars may have been powered by dark matter. A group of US scientists published a paper in Physical Review Letters speculating that, unlike the stars of today, which are powered by nuclear fusion, early stars might have been powered by the abundant dark matter crowding the universe after the Big Bang. The theory suggests that these stars would have collided and destroyed one another before nuclear fusion had a chance take hold." The BBC perhaps overstates the certainty with which the dark-matter theory is held, and doesn't mention that the postulated properties of such particles are completely speculative.
Overstates? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Overstates? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Overstates? (Score:2, Interesting)
Are they still stars? (Score:3, Interesting)
For example, a tennis ball and a "tennis-ball-shaped" object made of iron are two very different objects. I know which one I would like to have hit me in the head.
Dark matter is an optimization? (Score:5, Interesting)
If this was a simulation, would you simulate very atom? Or would you bulk compute matter that was less important, until it became important then simulate every atom?
Could dark matter, or matter we have trouble seeing, be the equivalent of hiding polygons which don't need to be rendered in a 3D scene?
Geez, I hope not. Quick, prove me wrong.
Re:Overstates? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Dark matter is an optimization? (Score:2, Interesting)
You can't get your galaxies to meet project specs, so you fudge your algorithm and hope the teacher doesn't notice.
Re:Dark matter is an optimization? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Overstates? (Score:3, Interesting)
Most of the theory right now revolves around our solar system and what occurs there. We have a whole set of formulas to calculate it.
But those formulas fall apart when applied to the very small such as an atom so we make exceptions.
Each planet rotates a given speed based upon its distance from the sun, yet electrons do not follow that same calculation around the proton.
Also now science is seeing that the Galaxies in space are rotating in a manner that also defies their calculations. A galaxy rotates all together nor like our planets whizzing at different speeds causing retrogrades and etc.
There is much to discover and we live at the opportune time to assist in these understandings of how the universe is really designed. We have chosen the perfect time to be here on Earth!