Comments on: Comments on 14642

Post number 14642

holycola — Sat, 09 Feb 2002 23:53:45 -0800

It ain't so dark anymore. Dark matter seems poised to assume its place among those astronomical phenomena that were predicted to exist before being observed. The planet Neptune and black holes to mention two of them. The last 100 years have really been a boom time for astronomy, and they're not slowing down.

By: holycola

holycola — Sun, 10 Feb 2002 00:16:56 -0800

Granted that the article is bigger on hype than certainty, more reputable sources have been talking about getting close to seeing dark matter in different ways. I always get excited about this sort of thing, but sometimes it feels like we're almost finding too much of what we're looking for. And when it comes to science, that can be problematic.

By: dong_resin

dong_resin — Sun, 10 Feb 2002 14:44:30 -0800

Since dark matter gives off no radiation, yet exerts gravitational pull, I wonder if being able to observe some directly will shed any light (ugh) on the nature of gravity itself, still one of least understood forces in physics.

By: dong_resin

dong_resin — Sun, 10 Feb 2002 14:45:49 -0800

Interesting links, by the way.

By: Mwongozi

Mwongozi — Mon, 11 Feb 2002 13:13:53 -0800

Actually, it may turn out that black holes don't exist at all.

By: goneill

goneill — Mon, 11 Feb 2002 14:01:48 -0800

i recently read a good book that i would like to recommend on the history of astronomy/cosmology... amazon link