The Grey Griffin Lounge and Coffee House
- FoulDwimmerlaik
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- FoulDwimmerlaik
- Posts: 560
- Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2001 11:00 pm
- Location: GWM IN SEARCH OF "FULFILLMENT" &
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Oh, really...Originally posted by FoulDwimmerlaik:
Waverly: Your translation about the hounds and the demons (LOL)is a bit off, you got a tense incorrect
Go n-ithe na gráinneoga cealgrúnacha do dhiosca crua
May diabolical hedgehogs eat your hard drive.
[This message has been edited by Waverly (edited 03-19-2001).]
Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time
- FoulDwimmerlaik
- Posts: 560
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- Location: GWM IN SEARCH OF "FULFILLMENT" &
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- FoulDwimmerlaik
- Posts: 560
- Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2001 11:00 pm
- Location: GWM IN SEARCH OF "FULFILLMENT" &
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- FoulDwimmerlaik
- Posts: 560
- Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2001 11:00 pm
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What is dark matter?
There seems to be a halo of mysterious invisible material engulfing galaxies, which is commonly referred to as dark matter. Scientists infer the existence of dark (invisible) matter through the observation of its gravitational pull, which causes the stars in the outer regions of a galaxy to orbit faster than they would if there was only ordinary matter present. Another indication is that we see galaxies in our own local cluster moving towards each other.
The Andromeda galaxy -about 2.2 million light years away from the Milky Way- is speeding toward us at 200,000 miles per hour. This motion can only be explained by gravitational attraction, even though the mass we observe is not nearly great enough to exert that kind of pull. It follows there must be a large amount of unseen mass causing the gravitational pull -roughly equivalent to ten times the size of the Milky Way- lying between the two galaxies.
Astronomers have no idea what the dark matter that supposedly makes up 90% to 99% of the mass of the universe is made of. Black holes and massive neutrinos are two possible explanations. Dark matter must have played an important role in galaxy formation during the evolution of the cosmos. It's existence will also decide the ultimate fate of the universe, because it depends on the universe's total mass, whether gravitation is strong enough act against the expansion of space and eventually induce a period of contraction, or whether space keeps on expanding forever.
So, what the hell is this stuff, and does it in fact exist? I think so, but the mind boggles...
There seems to be a halo of mysterious invisible material engulfing galaxies, which is commonly referred to as dark matter. Scientists infer the existence of dark (invisible) matter through the observation of its gravitational pull, which causes the stars in the outer regions of a galaxy to orbit faster than they would if there was only ordinary matter present. Another indication is that we see galaxies in our own local cluster moving towards each other.
The Andromeda galaxy -about 2.2 million light years away from the Milky Way- is speeding toward us at 200,000 miles per hour. This motion can only be explained by gravitational attraction, even though the mass we observe is not nearly great enough to exert that kind of pull. It follows there must be a large amount of unseen mass causing the gravitational pull -roughly equivalent to ten times the size of the Milky Way- lying between the two galaxies.
Astronomers have no idea what the dark matter that supposedly makes up 90% to 99% of the mass of the universe is made of. Black holes and massive neutrinos are two possible explanations. Dark matter must have played an important role in galaxy formation during the evolution of the cosmos. It's existence will also decide the ultimate fate of the universe, because it depends on the universe's total mass, whether gravitation is strong enough act against the expansion of space and eventually induce a period of contraction, or whether space keeps on expanding forever.
So, what the hell is this stuff, and does it in fact exist? I think so, but the mind boggles...
What? Haven't you heard? God is dead! -FWN
Tough one Foul, this type of science is not my forte. This is best left to overdeveloped cerebrums floating in saline filled bell jars with electrodes attached....
Compelling evidence exists but I don't believe the jury is back. Undectable ordinary matter hasn't been ruled out (dust, dense gases). Or it could be something stranger still: Massive Compact Halo Objects (Macho's).
I think we can only agree that large amounts of matter are un-accounted for.
Compelling evidence exists but I don't believe the jury is back. Undectable ordinary matter hasn't been ruled out (dust, dense gases). Or it could be something stranger still: Massive Compact Halo Objects (Macho's).
I think we can only agree that large amounts of matter are un-accounted for.
Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time
- FoulDwimmerlaik
- Posts: 560
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