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Posted on 04/02/2011 6:24:09 PM PDT by LibWhacker
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a resent paper posted at arXiv.org and submitted to Astrophysical Journal, Dan Hooper and Jason Steffen, physicists at Fermilab in Illinois, present the theory that cold and dark planets, not heated by a star, could be heated by dark matter. In theory, this dark matter could produce habitable planets outside of what is known as a habitable zone.
While no one knows exactly what dark matter is, it is believed to make up about 83 percent of the universe. The most accepted theory is this dark matter is made up of what are called WIMPs, or weakly interacting massive particles.
These WIMPs interact with regular matter by a weak nuclear force and gravity, but they are also antiparticles. When two WIMPs come together, they work to annihilate each other and cause a burst of energy.
Hooper and Steffen suggest that should this dark matter be trapped within a planet’s gravity, the bursts of energy could produce enough to warm the planet. When it comes to Earth, the energy that could be produced is low, but in areas of space where there are high densities of black matter; Hooper and Steffen believe there is the possibility of finding planets that could be warmed in this way.
Within the innermost regions of the Milky Way, density of dark matter is estimated to be hundreds or thousands of times that in our solar system, and it is in these areas that Hooper and Steffen believe finding a planet heated by dark matter would be most plausible.
Traditional planets, heated by stars like our sun, are dependent on the life of that star. This theory would make these dark matter planets have a large advantage over those tied to a star, as the dark matter could provide heat for trillions of years.
Hooper and Steffen admit that they currently do not see a way of detecting any of these possible dark matter planets in the near future, but that in theory, it is possible.
Not sure about the number of species (though I suspect there are way more species of bacteria underground than species on the surface), but I was watching the Science Channel a while back and they said biologists estimate the mass of all the bacteria living in solid rock deep in the earth's crust is as great as the mass of all the living things on the surface and in the oceans.
Funny, a similar thing was done to create the Global Warming Crisis. Ignoring reality in an attempt to support a theory.
The surface has no center.
Using your 'concept', the 3D Sphere is being used, but seen/visualized as a 2D object.
The 2D representation of a sphere is a flat circle. I assure you it has a center.
There are two-dimensional spheres, three-dimensional spheres, etc.
You throw around that 'etc.' very loosely. Perhaps you could be more explicit.
The universe may be like that, except it's a 3-D world, curved in some 4th dimension that we cannot perceive.
Did you know that a four-dimensional sphere is a square , when derived from a two-dimensional circle?
The universe may be like that, except it's a 3-D world, curved in some 4th dimension that we cannot perceive.
Yes it does. We just can't see it. Because.... it is a 'dark center'.
I have trouble imagining that concept.
So that when we are looking at the farthest galaxies, is it possible that we are looking back at ourselves? And would that curving of light give it a reddish tint? For there must be some sort of friction involved.
Hmmmm... Good questions. The kind that stimulate neurons in the brain. I'll have to think about that. Come back in about 7 million years, and I should have an answer.
": )
Because it is the only was to 'explain' something we really don't yet understand.
The surface of a sphere is finite in size, but you'll never run into a wall or boundary, no matter how much you travel around on the surface.
No, But eventually you will get really tired and just stop.
Dark matter/Dark energy.
It's just like GODZILLA. He is the 'dark matter' that destroyed Japan. The reason no one has ever actually SEEN Godzilla, is because he is 'invisible'.
When asked how he came to that conclusion, Asimov said, "Because the Universe sucks".
Now, even if the physics of the universe is explained to me in a very general way -- I still don't get it.
Neither do 'they'. Their 'theories' are just ways to explain what they don't 'get' yet.
It has no center.
Yes it does. We just can't see it. Because.... it is a 'dark center'.
“Come back in about 7 million years, and I should have an answer.”
42?
“Well, Bobby, lots of questions for Mr. Science today. ‘Is there such a thing as dark matter?’ We need an expert opinion here. ‘The most accepted theory is that dark matter is made up of what are called WIMPS’ that ‘work to annihilate each other and cause a burst of energy’. Remember the Mr. Science motto, ‘Doing Is Knowing!’ We have in the studio today two WIMPS...Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann. Let’s see how they interact. Maher appears to be calling Olbermann a bunch of really filthy names. Oooh, Olberman lands a left to Maher’s nose. That’ll cost a lot to fix. Maher strikes back with a girlie-kick to the shins. Olbermann is careening back into the circuit breaker box. The lights are out! There. Thanks for getting the power back on Cameraman Steve. ‘Is there such a thing as dark matter?’ Once again, science triumphs over superstition! The answer is...yes and it’s created by Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann. Mr. Science reminds all viewers to not try to duplicate these experiments. The power company has threatend to turn off our power if we don’t put out that disclaimer.”
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