First Creation of Anti-Strange Hypernuclei 179
runagate writes "Brookhaven National Laboratory has created a heretofore unknown form of matter. The matter we normally encounter, and are composed of, has nuclei of protons and neutrons that contain no strange quarks. It was known that anti-strange matter could exist, and using the Solenoidal Tracker at Brookhaven's RHIC, scientists detected a couple of dozen instances of antihypernuclei. The 'Z' axis of the Periodic Table has already been extended in the positive direction by the discovery of hypernuclei, but this new discovery extends it in the negative direction for this new type of 'strange' antimatter — which may exist in the core of collapsed stars and may provide insight into why our universe appears to be made almost solely of matter and not antimatter." The Register's coverage reproduces a helpful diagram.
heh (Score:4, Funny)
I can follow stuff like this, but every time I hear it, Treknobabble comes to mind. [wikipedia.org] Strange quarks, you say!
*** Sigh *** (Score:4, Funny)
Quote: "Hypernuclei bring a third dimension into play, based on the strangeness quantum number of the nucleus, thus allowing the territory of antinuclei with nonzero strangeness." ... Just when I thought I was starting to get it ... :-\
from the register's "helpful diagram": (Score:5, Funny)
"Atomsmash boffins' reverse alchemy bizarro-stuff triumph"
"Sometimes there is more strangeness than none at all. Or less."
the article is complete with a "Bootnote"
so i'm under the impression of having advanced quantum physics described to me by a drunk with a cockney accent. i guess that's helpful...
is this to be called unobtainium or bureaucracium? (Score:3, Funny)
I have, of course, discovered and documented both at work. prior art does exist.
Re:Quote that made my day (Score:5, Funny)
I'm guessing that with a name like "negatively strange antihypernucleic antimatter", Star Trek et al. will be all over this. Countdown until the term appears in sci-fi shows...
Probably... But what I'm really hoping is that scientists -- and by extension sci-fi shows -- adopt El Reg's proposed term for negative strangeness "hypermundanity".
Just imagine Data saying that. "Captain, the gaseous anomaly we've entered contains high levels of hypermundanity."
"*yawn* Tell me about it, Commander."
RHIC as copy editor.... (Score:4, Funny)
I like The Register, but it seems all their article (sub)titles are generated in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven as well...
Re:so what happens (Score:4, Funny)
As I'm on my way out, my last words will be "It's spelled Nobel..."
Thanks. I wanted to say something meaningful! :(
MY GOD! Do you know what this means?! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:from the register's "helpful diagram": (Score:2, Funny)
so i'm under the impression of having advanced quantum physics described to me by a drunk with a cockney accent. i guess that's helpful...
Isn't that what it takes to be able to understand Quantum Mechanics? To normal folks, there isn't any difference between Quantum Mechanics and bellybutton lint, both are totally incomprehensible.
Re:MY GOD! Do you know what this means?! (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, I know what an anti-strange hypernucleus is.
- GOD
Re:heh (Score:4, Funny)
We will fire the Anti-Strange particle emitter into the temporal distortion field to correct the change in the timeline.
Re:This could be used as a source of limitless ene (Score:1, Funny)
if you're driving you car near the speed of light
Hypothetically you've already crashed, so the headlights wont help.
Re:I've always wondered... (Score:3, Funny)
Thanks a lot!
Negatively strange anti-hypernucleus? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:*** Sigh *** (Score:4, Funny)
Three dimensional? Anti- this and that? A bit hyper? Fairly strange?
Sounds like they've discovered my friends.
Re:heh (Score:2, Funny)
It's not working! Reverse the polarity!
Re:Negatively strange anti-hypernucleus? (Score:2, Funny)
These are the same people who measure area in barns, sheds, and outhouses [wikipedia.org]. 1 square foot = 9.290304 × 10^26 barns. Or 9.290304 × 10^32 outhouses.
Re:heh (Score:2, Funny)
> emitter into the temporal distortion field
> to correct the change in the timeline.
It's not working, Captain. The chroniton radiation emanating from the distortion field is creating too much quantum interference. I'm rerouting auxiliary power through the lateral sensor array, but it's not having any effect.