NASA is claiming that they’ve found direct evidence of dark matter :
Dark matter and normal matter have been wrenched apart by the tremendous collision of two large clusters of galaxies. The discovery, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, gives direct evidence for the existence of dark matter.
“This is the most energetic cosmic event, besides the Big Bang, which we know about,” said team member Maxim Markevitch of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass.
These observations provide the strongest evidence yet that most of the matter in the universe is dark. Despite considerable evidence for dark matter, some scientists have proposed alternative theories for gravity where it is stronger on intergalactic scales than predicted by Newton and Einstein, removing the need for dark matter. However, such theories cannot explain the observed effects of this collision.
I don’t know enough to really believe that the matter is settled, but it sure sounds like a big win for the dark matter guys.
tdn
August 23, 2006, 4:52pm
2
I guess this is a slap in the face to the people who think that dark matter is some conspiracy perpetrated by NASA to convert children to gaydom. Or whatever stupid shit they were thinking.
Squink
August 23, 2006, 6:23pm
4
Here’s a direct link to the story at Chandra, with pics and animation:1E 0657-56: NASA Finds Direct Proof of Dark Matter
Angua
August 23, 2006, 9:44pm
5
I wouldn’t say settled, but the evidence is rather good. I think, taking everything into account, the naysayers will have to come up with something spectacular.
