Simulations Predict Where We Can Find Dark Matter

p1234 writes with this excerpt from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics: "Simulations by the Virgo team show how the Milky Way's halo grew through a series of violent collisions and mergers from millions of much smaller clumps that emerged from the Big Bang. ... If Fermi does detect the predicted emission from the Milky Way's smooth inner halo, then it may, if we are lucky, also see gamma-rays from small (and otherwise invisible) clumps of dark matter which happen to lie particularly close to the Sun. ... The largest simulation took 3.5 million processor hours to complete. Volker Springel was responsible for shepherding the calculation through the machine and said: 'At times I thought it would never finish.' Max Planck Director, Professor Simon White, remarked that 'These calculations finally allow us to see what the dark matter distribution should look like near the Sun where we might stand a chance of detecting it.'" We discussed a related simulation a few months ago.

Obvious

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't believe no one has tried looking for dark matter directly next to the Sun. That should light it up!

Re:Hope it works out for you

[MadnessASAP]

With the way physics is goign these days, being able to determine that something is in space means you are doing pretty damn good for yourself.

I find

[Konster]

I find plenty of dark matter when I turn out all the lights prior to going to bed for the evening.

Specifically, I find plenty of dark matter with my toes, which doesn't result in a shout of discovery like, "Eureka!" but ,"*$&#@!"

An obligatory cultural reference

[K. S. Kyosuke]

LAUNCELOT: Look, my liege!

ARTHUR: Camelot!

GALAHAD: Camelot!

LAUNCELOT: Camelot!

PATSY: It's only a model.

ARTHUR: Shhh!