Voiding the Cosmic Void: We're not at Center of the Universe After All
December 10, 2008Models of the universe that place us near the center of a large, sparse region don't jibe with astronomical observations. Cosmologists at the University of British Columbia reached the conclusion through a new analysis that reaffirms the presence of a perplexing dark energy.
In recent years many studies have indicated that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, which may be due to a mysterious form of dark energy that makes up most of the contents of the universe.
Alternative interpretations have suggested that the accelerated expansion may be merely an illusion, if we happened to live near the center of an enormous cosmic void, empty of most matter.
The researchers examined the latest data, in particular subtle features in the cosmic microwave background radiation (the afterglow of the Big Bang) and ripples in the large-scale distribution of matter. They found that void models, unlike standard dark energy models, do a very poor job of explaining all of the latest data, taken together.
The new study helps to solidify our place in the Universe as a completely typical and unremarkable one. It also reaffirms that most of the stuff in the universe is far from ordinary: the dark energy remains as enigmatic as ever.
Article: J. P. Zibin, Adam Moss, and Douglas Scott, Physical Review Letters(forthcoming)
Provided by APS
Nov 05, 2009 |
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Yeah, dark light. It's like light, but totally not.
You needed proof??!?!?!
Our Galaxy orbits around some thing we can not see or taste and how would we know if it is passing through our intestines? The idea that gravity constant is multi-dimensional may be correct. "Feeling" dark mater just around the "dimensional corner" from us may be future physics.
From my present location I cannot detect you, taste you, nor do I think I can get you to pass through my small intestine. But I can see a post which had to come from somewhere, logic tells me some one or something wrote it. Most input in these boards is via a keyboard, so probably something with fingers, Since you didn't write an infinite number of post to get your post right I'd assume not a monkey, so I'm guessing you are a Human with a Screen name of Avitar.
We can't see something out there, but we can see stuff not doing what it's supposed to something is probably affecting that, Do you want every theoretical substance to be named "that thingy" until we can get a picture of it?
You would be correct. Hence, "It's like light, but totally not." My lame sense of humor.
Very interesting concept - the simplest answer is that the photon has zero ***rest*** mass - since all photons are on the go, they have momentum and thus mass (but see last reference below).
You know that famous equation E=MC^2 - actually the "M" term refers to "rest mass" - and thus the equation is an approximation - when something is moving (and there is always some sort of motion - hence my comment saying "approximation") That famous equation actually has another term - there is a momentum term to the equation.
Here is a nice link that explains it better than I could ever:
http://www.physli...e180.cfm
http://math.ucr.e...ass.html
http://www.newton...0332.htm
http://www.aip.or...5-2.html
Here they are, tinyurl'ed:
http://tinyurl.com/pmasssans
http://tinyurl.com/bjmuy
http://tinyurl.co...ssnewton
http://tinyurl.com/pmassslow
One question though, if all photons are on the go and (according to your comment), therefore have mass, how does light go so fast, the mass is meant to increase to infinity, also I thought that if a photon has zero mass at rest then if you multiply zero by anything you still get zero, or is there another rule that momentum can multiply a zero value into a larger than zero value.
Following on from that, if I take it that the maximum speed of light is due to its mass, then if one could remove mass from the equation it would possible to travel faster than light.
Basically it all falls back on e=mc^2 is not an equation, it's a conversion factor between different forms of measurement like KW to HP or gallons to cubic millimeters only it's the equivalency between a said amount of matter and it's equivalent amount of energy.
I apologize for moving this discussion away from the topic, so to correct that...
I think it was naive to think we were at the center of the universe in the first place or for that matter in any special place in the universe, but mind you there were times when we thought the earth was flat, sure glad I didn't live in those times, no Google back then.
http://tinyurl.com/dssb9
Just a friendly correction:
Those toys do not convert photon momentum - the vanes move because of differential heating of the dark & light parts - its residual air bouncing off faster due to the dark side getting slightly hotter than the light side.
If you put the vanes under a very good vacuum, light doesn;t cause the vanes to move. (would have been nice if momentum of light was the cause...)
http://tinyurl.com/622rph
http://tinyurl.com/6nwu4g
http://aetherwave...oid.html
http://aetherwave...ton.html
http://aetherwave...rse.html