Computer Model Points To the Missing Matter

eldavojohn writes "There exists a little-known problem of missing regular matter that has perhaps been overshadowed by the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Computer models show that there should be about 40% more regular matter than we see... so where is it? From the article: 'The study indicated a significant portion of the gas is in the filaments — which connect galaxy clusters — hidden from direct observation in enormous gas clouds in intergalactic space known as the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium, or WHIM, said CU-Boulder Professor Jack Burns... The team performed one of the largest cosmological supercomputer simulations ever, cramming 2.5 percent of the visible universe inside a computer to model a region more than 1.5 billion light-years across.' This hypothesis will be investigated and hopefully proved/disproved when telescopes are completed in Chile and the Antarctic. The paper will be up for review in this week's edition of the the Astrophysical Journal."

Comments

Bad name.

[morgan_greywolf]

Warm-Hot Intergalactic Matter? WHIM? The WHIM Hypothesis? I mean, it just SOUNDS like he made it up on whim!

Re:Bad name.

[networkBoy]

It's all moot anyway:

cramming 2.5 percent of the visible universe inside a computer In other news the computer coalesced into a black hole and devoured the solar system, Al Gore included. It then spit out his belt. News at 11.
-nB

Check behind the couch.

[Anonymous Coward]

That's where my missing matter always turns up.

Re:Oh! Oh!

[zappepcs]

err... the answer is .... 42!

Packing Penuts

[jameskojiro]

The missing matter is in those Packing peanuts that the scientist's equipment was shipped with.

I think I know where it will be found

[hyades1]

"...hidden from direct observation in enormous gas clouds in intergalactic space..." >p>

If all that missing matter is contained in gas clouds, I think I know where to find it. There's an election coming up, right?

Follow the trail...

[Anonymous Coward]

...of left socks and you'll find all the missing matter in the universe.

IBM = Incredibly Big Machine

[butterwise]

cramming 2.5 percent of the visible universe inside a computer

That is one big-ass computer.

Re:IBM = Incredibly Big Machine

[jddj]

All you need is a suitable improbability generator - say, a nice hot cup of tea - and a piece of fairy cake...

Re:Not Dark Matter

[Chosen Reject]

no this missing mass is not dark matter

You can say that again. It's mostly a transparent green haze from what I can see of it. The guy sitting in the next cubicle just found a good amount of that Warm-Hot gas and has released it into the workplace.

Re:missing matter != dark matter?

[Intron]

I explained to my bank that my computer model showed 40% more money in my account than they listed. For some reason they refused to listen to me.

Poll: Location of Missing Matter

[davidwr]

Poll: Where will scientists find the missing matter?

* It's not missing. Our measurements are wrong.
* It's not missing. Our theories are wrong.
* In filaments between the galaxies.
* In an as-yet-undiscovered construct.
* In CowboyNeal's sock drawer.

The answer is obvious!

[greg_barton]

...there should be about 40% more regular matter than we see... so where is it?

Behind you...