Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mysterious Force Affects Pioneer 10 & 11 Probes

Posted by Hemos on from the launched-into-deepest-space dept.

JabbaTheFart writes "The Guardian is writing that something strange is tugging at America's oldest spacecraft. As the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes head towards distant stars, scientists have discovered that the craft - launched more than 30 years ago - appear to be in the grip of a mysterious force that is holding them back as they sweep out of the solar system. Some researchers say unseen 'dark matter' may permeate the universe and that this is affecting the Pioneers' passage. Others say flaws in our understanding of the laws of gravity best explain the crafts' wayward behaviour."

6 of 829 comments (clear)

  1. Re:for the love of god, by dkscully · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I am glad some one mentioned it.

  2. Doh! by Evil+Attraction · · Score: 0, Redundant

    What's the matter with people these days? It's a tractor beam, of course!
    Even I know that, and I'm not even interested in science.

    --
    Only the dead have seen the end of war...

  3. Typo. by Raven42rac · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Mysterious force AFFECTS Pioneer 10 & 11 Probes.

    --
    I hate sigs.
  4. It's Affects, not Effects!!! by Stryker2 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    C'mon, editors; it's basic English. Many on this site like to bag on Microsoft for poor coding; that is little different from misue of the English language, although it can have more severe effects.

    --
    Bother, said Pooh, as he called in an air strike.
  5. Re:Laws of Physics by daniel23 · · Score: 0, Redundant


    insightful (the cat ate my mod points)

    --
    605413? Yes, it's a prime.
  6. Re:Laws of Physics by Greyfox · · Score: 0, Redundant

    We believed the earth was flat and that it was the center of the universe for a lot longer than we've been studying "Modern" physics. Who's to say that in a few centuries our current model won't seem as quaint and outdated?

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?