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Intergalactic Missing Mass Missing Again

Posted by kdawson on from the yesterday-upon-the-stair dept.

Ponca City, We Love You writes "Researchers at the University Of Alabama In Huntsville have discovered that some x-rays thought to come from intergalactic clouds of 'warm' gas are instead probably caused by lightweight electrons — leaving the mass of the universe as much as ten to 20 percent lighter (in terms of its ordinary matter) than previously calculated. In 2002 the same team reported finding large amounts of extra 'soft' (relatively low-energy) x-rays coming from the vast spaces in the middle of galaxy clusters. Their cumulative mass was thought to account for as much as ten percent of the mass and gravity needed to hold together galaxies, galaxy clusters, and perhaps the universe itself. When the team looked at data from a galaxy cluster in the southern sky, however, they found that energy from those additional soft x-rays doesn't look like it should. 'The best, most logical explanation seems to be that a large fraction of the energy comes from electrons smashing into photons instead of from warm atoms and ions, which would have recognizable spectral emission lines,' said Dr. Max Bonamente. The work was published Oct. 20 in the Astrophysical Journal."

7 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Happiness is... by zifferent · · Score: 4, Funny

    a warm gas. (and lightweight electrons.)

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    cat sig > /dev/null
  2. Re:The falloff of light is 1/r^2 by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Funny

    As stupid as you are, someone who is even more stupid than you will read your post and mod you up.

    That's the magic of Slashdot.

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    How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. Ballpoint pen theory of mass differential by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The other, slightly less, logical explanation is that the difference in mass can simply be explained by the number of missing ballpoint pens in the universe.

    1. Re:Ballpoint pen theory of mass differential by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The other, slightly less, logical explanation is that the difference in mass can simply be explained by the number of missing ballpoint pens in the universe.

      No, the Dryer/Sofa Correspondence Theorem elegantly shows that the deficit of pens is exactly cancelled out by excess right socks. (And it also demonstrates that contrary to popular urban legend, the supposed "missing" left socks never existed in this universe in the first place.)

    2. Re:Ballpoint pen theory of mass differential by jamstar7 · · Score: 4, Funny

      The other, slightly less, logical explanation is that the difference in mass can simply be explained by the number of missing ballpoint pens in the universe.

      But that doesn't explain where all those goddamned clothes hangers come from.

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      Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step on the path to true panic.
  4. US Consumers Clueless, says Survey by Kohath · · Score: 4, Funny

    US Consumers Clueless about Missing Intergalactic Mass

    "A study on consumer perceptions about missing intergalactic mass, undertaken by the Asimov Institute at the University of Phoenix Online and the Speilberg Space Policy Center, found that the average American consumer is largely unaware that some x-rays thought to come from intergalactic clouds of 'warm' gas are instead probably caused by lightweight electrons. Those surveyed showed little knowledge on the extent to which the mass of the universe was previously calculated. More than half of those surveyed -- about 55 percent -- falsely assumed that large amounts of extra 'soft' galaxy clusters were actually a light chocolatey candy. ...

  5. Intergelatic by jlehtira · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's probably a typo, it should say intergelatic. That's something between ice creams.