Slashdot Mirror


Spiraling Magnetic Signal Shows Up In the Cosmic Background

pln2bz writes "Astronomers looking for confirmation for emissions from early stellar formation in the cosmic microwave background radiation instead found a signal indicating large amounts of unaccounted-for spiraling magnetic fields in space, but without any accompanying infrared emissions. The discovery possibly dredges up the claims of plasma cosmologists like Eric Lerner, who claim that the intergalactic medium is a strong absorber of the CMB with the absorption occurring in a fog of narrow filaments. These filaments are the result of plasma's natural tendency, as observed within the plasma laboratory and in novelty plasma globes, to form braided, ropelike structures which are collimated by coiled magnetic fields."

16 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Holy Crap, Gurren Lagann was right! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The universe really is made out of spiral energy!

  2. Foil hats at the ready by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe it's the explanation for the problem these hippies' are having? No, on second thoughts, the problem is that they're hippies.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. Re:Err..what? by MRe_nl · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Spiraling Magnetic Signal, Cosmic Background emissions in the cosmic microwave background radiation, a signal indicating large amounts of unaccounted-for spiraling magnetic fields in space, but without any accompanying infrared emissions. The intergalactic medium is a strong absorber of a fog of narrow filaments. These filaments are the result of plasma's natural tendency, to form braided, ropelike structures which are collimated by coiled magnetic fields."

    Jeez Dungeon Master, all I did was cast "Detect Magic", no need to go all cosmic on us...

    --
    "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
  4. Yeah yeah, now answer the important question.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...which is "what are the implications of this discovery with regards to the development of FTL travel and subsequent discovery of green alien chicks in bikinis?"

  5. Them spiraling aren't magnetic fields! by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1, Funny
    They are just the spending by USGovernment!

    The spending is spiraling out of control, out of this world and is astronomical, as every one knows.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  6. So this means... by gerald626 · · Score: 2, Funny

    That the universe is a big giant plasma ball that hasn't been played with in a while... so what happens when someone plugs us back in and touches the glass again?

  7. Re:Err..what? by sapphire+wyvern · · Score: 2, Funny

    Spiralling Magnetic Signal sounds like a good name for a geekcore band.

  8. Another theory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Or this could just be the transmissions of some aliens.

  9. Re:Err..what? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's more proof that the Pastafarians are right!

  10. Re:Err..what? by BradHAWK · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, to chemists everything that is not hydrogen or helium or a non-metal is a metal. Except hydrogen. Sometimes.

  11. Re:Err..what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It was originally called "shit up there," but PBS made Carl Sagan clean it up for the children.

  12. Re:Err..what? by sleigher · · Score: 1, Funny

    Dude, that is so metal.

    --
    All points of time and space are connected.
  13. Re:Err..what? by mestar · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, they can use any words that they want, but, fuck it, this is just stupid.

  14. Re:Importance of the Cosmic Microwave Background by memristance · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's that image burned into our retinas when the power to our monitors dies, right? Right?

  15. First Sign? by aCodeCowboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Could be somebody up there pulled the handle and we're just starting the spin down the bowl?

  16. Re:Err..what? by HasselhoffThePaladin · · Score: 1, Funny

    Your facetious comment is meddling with my attempt to grasp this new concept, which I believe could be worthy of a medal if it turns out to be true.