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Dark Matter Discovered Near Solar System?

gpronger writes "The ATIC (Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter) has potentially discovered the presence of dark matter close (only 3000 light-years) to our solar system. The system detected a large-amount of high energy cosmic rays which match the theoretical signature of dark matter annihilating itself. The universe is believed to be composed of about 25% dark matter, but there has been little evidence of it. This discovery, if correct, would be the first." The paper was published in Nature , but it requires a subscription to see beyond the abstract.

4 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. the next logical question... by fred+fleenblat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    where is the dark antimatter?

  2. Re:Close to our Solar System by techno-vampire · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Compared to intergalactic space, 3,000 light years is practically next door. It's all relative, and when it comes to astronomy, anything inside the Milky Way is considered close.

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  3. Common doublespeak! by east+coast · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The universe is believed to be composed of about 25% dark matter, but there has been little evidence of it. This discovery, if correct, would be the first.

    If this would be the first evidence how can we already have a little evidence of it?

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  4. Re:Kinda Reminds Me of the Face on Mars by s.bots · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Unless and until physicists can fully explain the true mechanism of movement in language that the layperson can understand, I'll remain highly skeptical of their more outlandish conclusions (black holes, wormholes, dark matter, dark energy, big bang, parallel universes, etc.), sorry.

    How do you expect the explanations in layman's terms to be any different than what we use now (what goes up must come down, at equilibrium every action has an equal and opposite reaction, object at rest stays at rest until acted upon, etc. etc. etc.)? These are extremely complex phenomena that, if described in layman's terms, cannot be accurately portrayed.