Dark Matter Discovered Near Solar System?

gpronger writes "The ATIC (Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter) has potentially discovered the presence of dark matter close (only 3000 light-years) to our solar system. The system detected a large-amount of high energy cosmic rays which match the theoretical signature of dark matter annihilating itself. The universe is believed to be composed of about 25% dark matter, but there has been little evidence of it. This discovery, if correct, would be the first." The paper was published in Nature , but it requires a subscription to see beyond the abstract.

the next logical question...

[fred fleenblat]

where is the dark antimatter?

Re:Close to our Solar System

[techno-vampire]

Compared to intergalactic space, 3,000 light years is practically next door. It's all relative, and when it comes to astronomy, anything inside the Milky Way is considered close.

Common doublespeak!

[east coast]

The universe is believed to be composed of about 25% dark matter, but there has been little evidence of it. This discovery, if correct, would be the first.

If this would be the first evidence how can we already have a little evidence of it?

Re:Kinda Reminds Me of the Face on Mars

[s.bots]

Unless and until physicists can fully explain the true mechanism of movement in language that the layperson can understand, I'll remain highly skeptical of their more outlandish conclusions (black holes, wormholes, dark matter, dark energy, big bang, parallel universes, etc.), sorry.

How do you expect the explanations in layman's terms to be any different than what we use now (what goes up must come down, at equilibrium every action has an equal and opposite reaction, object at rest stays at rest until acted upon, etc. etc. etc.)? These are extremely complex phenomena that, if described in layman's terms, cannot be accurately portrayed.

There is no such thing

[American Scum]

I still believe that 'dark matter' is only a temporary constant inserted into an equation modern scientists don't truly understand.

In time they will discover what is causing the effects of this 'dark matter' - it will not be super strange matter, nor another form of matter, but will be either a change in the overall calculations of our universe's energy or it will be some type of substance that was not accounted for.

Theorists throw in some offbeat number to the calculation every 30 years or so to account for what they just can't figure out.

Re:math hosers.

[CTachyon]

Dude, seriously, read up on electroweak theory. You're so 1960's.

Re:close ?

[gpronger]

I was sitting in my office (Chicago) and the phone rang; two vendor reps wanted to drop by, being in the area, but needed some directions. As it happens they were in Peoria (central Illinois) which struck me as peculiar in saying that they were in the area. When they made it in, it turned out they were "in" from Australia. So in fact, from there perspective, they were "in the area".Seems things are all relative.

All things are relative, all relatives are things, my relatives took all my things.

Greg