Posted Oct 30, 2007 at 05:49AM by Ryan A. Listed in: Astronomy Tags: Dark Matter
Ó

Canadian astronomers say dark matter doesn't exist - Image 1Dark matter, by definition, is a matter of unknown composition that doesn't reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be observed first hand. Scientists believe that such concept exists due to dark matter's gravitational effects on other visible objects. This is mostly true for the universe.

However, the concept of dark matter has been under fire recently with some researchers and scientists saying that it doesn't exist at all. Add now Canadian astronomers John Moffat and Joel Brownstein to that growing list of scientists who believe that dark matter is nothing but an unproven concept.

According to the two, the universe is not being held together by dark matter. Instead this can be explained by the Modified Gravity theory or MOG. Moffat explained:


MOG gravity is stronger if you go out from the center of the galaxy than it is in Newtonian gravity. The stronger gravity mimics what dark matter does. With dark matter, you take Einstein and Newtonian gravity and you shovel in more dark matter. If there's more matter, you get more gravity. Whereas for me, I say dark matter doesn't exist. It's the gravity that's changed.


On the other hand, one strong supporter of the dark matter theory Douglas Clowe stated that Moffat and Brownstein hasn't done anything yet for him to believe otherwise. "We're still open to modifying gravity to reduce the amount of dark matter, but we're pretty sure that you have to have most of the mass of the universe still in some form of dark matter," he added.


[Via SPACE] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:

3 Comments


Sort by:
   by GW2 - 2007-10-30
 » lol

ive been saying this for years and im 17, the idea of dark matter just doesnt make sense.

   by Advertising -
   by jians5 - 2007-11-01
 » Open concept

Gw2. I'm not usually one to criticize, however, I'm sure if you fully understood the concept of Dark Matter, it may make a little bit more sense to you.

Personally I see no difference between "Dark Matter" and a "Black Hole". I see both as one of the same, both should be considered a Singularity.

These scientists are correct for stating that is an unproven concept, however, there is much in science that is unproven. Saying something doesn't exist because there is little evidence that point to it, is the same as saying it does exist, however I would rather leave the concept open than denying it. Is your glass half empty, or half full? This was Einstein's problem with Quantum Mechanics, and look what happened there. We simply do not have enough information to make either claim, and that is why it is a THEORY.

I personally believe that either Dark Matter, or Black Hole Singularities do exist, if you can consider that 'within existence'. However another theory could be that since waves of gravity act as those of light, which can be strengthened or weakened at point where the wave functions interact. Two crests, or two troughs would strengthen each other, whereas a crest and a trough would weaken the wave. (See two slit experiment) So perhaps what we think is dark matter, or a black hole, is really just a part of the universe, where many gravitational waves are interacting with each other causing the illusion of an orbit around an object, but in reality, the objects are just following the gravitational paths set forth by nearby objects.

Maybe we need to stop worrying about things on a macroscopic scale, until we understand what the objects consist of. String theory gives us a good understanding of objects, and works mathematically, though it may never be widely accepted as it again, cannot be proven, because it cannot be seen. Einstein used thought experiment to come up with his Theory of Relativity, perhaps now, in the computer age, we need to start making computer models of a black hole so we can “see” what would happen when entering one. Would you be crushed, or moved somewhere else?

One last suggestion: If string theory is correct, what we think is dark matter, is a gravitational field caused by gravitons from a large mass such as a white dwarf star, travelling from one brane (or universe) to another. However this would call for a massless particle which again, would be impossible to detect. However, the theory stands strong.

I apologise for the long post, but these ideas require a lot of explanation for the general reader.

-Ian – Age 21 – Toronto, Canada


   Re: jians5 - 2007-11-01
 » crest/valley odds

Follow up: If the crest/valley theory is correct, it could account for the large number of 'dark matter' in the universe because it is more likely for 2 troughs or 2 crests to interact, than a crest and a valley. Think about it. If a wave consists of ups and downs, there is a 2 in 3 chance of 2 crests or 2 valleys to interact. However there is only a 1 in 3 chance for a crest and a valley to interact.

Just my thoughts...


QJ.NET Blog Network RSS Feeds
MyQJ Feed / PDA
MyQJ RSS / PDA
Blog of Blogs Feed / PDA
QJ.NET RSS / PDA
Gaming Consoles Feed / PDA
Nintendo DS RSS / PDA
PlayStation 3 RSS / PDA
PSP Updates RSS / PDA
Wii RSS / PDA
Xbox 360 RSS / PDA
PC Gaming Feed / PDA
Age of Conan RSS / PDA
Games for Windows RSS / PDA
MMORPG RSS / PDA
Tabula Rasa RSS / PDA
World of Warcraft RSS / PDA
Science Feed / PDA
Science RSS / PDA
Technology Feed / PDA
Apple RSS / PDA
Gadgets RSS / PDA
iPhone RSS / PDA
Mobile RSS / PDA
Photography RSS / PDA
Tech RSS / PDA
Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add  to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!
User Favorites - October
Most Commented
No commented articles
User Favorites - October
Top Jumps
No available articles using criteria

 Username: 
 Password:
Forgot password
New user registration



Poll
Are unidentified flying objects (UFOs) really alien spaceships?
Earth Science
General Science
Health Science
Space
Archives