Posted on 04/19/2005 2:26:32 PM PDT by neverdem
The unexpected finding could provide insight into the creation of the universe, scientists say.
Researchers smashing gold atoms together to mimic conditions in the first microseconds after the creation of the universe have observed an unexpected new state of matter.
Instead of the thin, fiery gas of quarks and gluons that they expected, they found instead a dense drop of the elementary particles that behaves like a hitherto unseen "perfect fluid."
It is "a truly stunning finding," said Raymond L. Orbach, director of the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
Quarks are the fundamental building blocks of protons, neutrons and other subatomic particles, held together in pairs and triplets by mysterious particles called gluons, whose attractive force is so overwhelming that neither quarks nor gluons have ever been seen separated from one another in nature.
When the universe was created, however, it consisted only of a massive swarm of gluons and quarks, a so-called quark-gluon plasma, which quickly condensed into conventional matter.
Four separate international teams now believe that they have created a small, short-lived quark-gluon plasma whose behavior will provide insights into the moments after the big bang that started everything off.
"We think we are looking at a phenomenon [similar to what happened] in the universe 13 billion years ago when free quarks and gluons … cooled down to the particles that we know today," said Sam Aronson of Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., where the experiments were performed.
Aronson spoke Monday at a news conference at a meeting of the American Physical Society in Florida, where the results were presented.
"The matter that they are seeing is even more interesting … than we thought it would be," said theoretical physicist Berndt Mueller of Duke University. "They have presented a compelling case for the achievement of an...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Another unwanted spillover from the Religion threads.
Atom Smasher Yields 'Perfect Fluid'
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Kinda like what Ann Coulter does to liberals !!! ;-))
I don't deprive women of my company, Mandrake, but I do deprive them of my essence.
Unfortunately, that one was quickly overrun by biblical literalists, and those of us interested in seriously discussing the topic soon lost interest.
ping
The fact that the suits passed this off is laughable! Can't you just see the throngs of hardened, grizzled JD drinkers petitioning the company to please put less booze in their product?
I'd have more respect if they just came right out and said that they would save millions of $$$ a year lowering the proof and few would notice.
They'll have the sun orbiting the Earth, where it belongs, in no time.
Ah, ye old black and tan.
(Gen 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
ping
Single-malt ping.
As my dear departed pappy used to say about the 16 yr old stuff: "Ahhhh yes! Old enough for a driver's licens in most states!"
Can't solve Guinness but sugar Coke is available right now at any supermarket that sells Kosher for Passover stuff. Can't use corn syrup during Passover.
Stock up on cans, the bottles lose fizz.
So, is evo soup is being served?
What the Quark is a Gluon, for crying out loud?
Fluids have mechanical properties, like gases and liquids, except most liquids can't be compressed, IIRC.
You are in the wrong forum for that question.
There is at least one guy at FR (Physicist) who can address this. We are not completely bereft of expertise here LOL.
Imagine that. Using a particle accelerator to make Guinness Draught
BRILLIANT!
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