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Origin of Cosmic Rays Confirmed

Posted by kdawson on from the just-as-we-suspected dept.

cats-paw writes in with news of research that seems to confirm and support current theories of how cosmic rays are created. The prevailing thinking has been that cosmic rays are generated in the regions where supernovas' shock waves interact with the interstellar medium. The new research used the variability in X-ray emissions from a supernova remnant to estimate the strength of the magnetic fields present in that environment. The results lend support to the possibility of protons and nucleii being accelerated in supernova remnants to energies of 1 PeV (10^15 eV) and beyond. Here is the abstract from Nature.

10 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Synopsis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Cosmos

  2. d'oh by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    research that seems to confirm and support current theories of how cosmic rays are created.

    Oh, great, now that everyone knows how to make them, the Fantastic Four are going to be up to their eyeballs in supervillainry.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  3. When I punch 10^15 eV into Google... by nexuspal · · Score: 3, Funny

    It comes back with .00160217 joules. Isn't this a very small amount of energy, or am I missing something?

    --
    I've read Slashdot for the last 5 years, and now I start posting... Go figure :-P
    1. Re:When I punch 10^15 eV into Google... by British · · Score: 4, Funny

      But it would take a year to charge the gun. Kinda cancels itself out.

  4. According to the creation museum in Kansas by antifoidulus · · Score: 5, Funny

    they are created when God puts foil in his microwave :P

    --
    Monstar L
  5. Re:a good science post? by Icarus1919 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sorry, but I refuse to read science news unless it's been submitted by Roland.

  6. Re:Very, very hot by Annymouse+Cowherd · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thats almost 6,500,000,000,000,000,000 degrees!!!!

  7. Re:Very, very hot by White+Flame · · Score: 5, Funny

    6,446,700,000,000,000,000 degrees! That's 6.4 billion billion degrees.

    But how many Libraries Of Congress On Fire is that?

  8. Roasting Times by maz2331 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, if I need to cook a turkey, how long should I leave it in at 6,446,700,000,000,000,000 degrees?

  9. Re:God did it! by tm2b · · Score: 4, Funny

    God created everything from cosmic rays to herpes.
    But obviously, in different stages of the relationship.
    --
    "It is our blasphemy which has made us great, and will sustain us, and which the gods secretly admire in us." - Zelazny