Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Science and Technology => Topic started by: SusanDoris on August 02, 2017, 04:45:23 PM

Title: Dark matter
Post by: SusanDoris on August 02, 2017, 04:45:23 PM
Two-to-three years ago I watched 'The Higgs-Boson revisited' by Sean Carroll all about QTF. Today I watched it again and this time I understood much more.

What I wonder is whether dark matter, whatever it is, must also be composed of photons, electrons, neutrons and all the other ...ons, and the known forces and, therefore, it would be weaker than the forces and not affect the material of us, Earth and all other stars.

I shall be interested in any opinions on this.
 
Title: Re: Dark matter
Post by: jeremyp on August 02, 2017, 07:25:38 PM
whether dark matter, whatever it is, must also be composed of photons, electrons, neutrons and all the other ...ons, and the known forces and, therefore, it would be weaker than the forces and not affect the material of us, Earth and all other stars.
 

Since Dark Matter has so far been undetectable except by observing its gravitational effects on bodies we can see, we can rule out it being composed of any of the normal particles. If it were electrons, for example, it's be easy to see b because of its effect e-m radiation.

The 3rd of July edition of  Infinite Monkey Cage has a good discussion on what Dark Matter might be and why we have ruled out some types of particle.
Title: Re: Dark matter
Post by: SusanDoris on August 03, 2017, 11:32:34 AM
Thank you, Jeremy. I heard only a few minutes of that programme and had forgotten about it. I will look it up and listen.
Title: Re: Dark matter
Post by: SusanDoris on August 03, 2017, 04:51:59 PM
Jeremy

I have been trying to find a link to listen again to the 3rd July programme but can't find it. I would be most grateful if you  could help me here please and perhaps post the link?
Title: Re: Dark matter
Post by: Nearly Sane on August 03, 2017, 04:56:42 PM
Jeremy

I have been trying to find a link to listen again to the 3rd July programme but can't find it. I would be most grateful if you  could help me here please and perhaps post the link?
Think it is this one in What Particles Remain to Be Discovered

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08wn9mb
Title: Re: Dark matter
Post by: SusanDoris on August 03, 2017, 05:33:59 PM
Many thanks, NS.


That was excellent, so thank you again Jeremy and NS.
Title: Re: Dark matter
Post by: SusanDoris on August 03, 2017, 07:06:13 PM
A friend has just phoned to say there was an item on the PM programme just before 5:30 pm. about dark matter! I didn't hear it because I was listening to the Inf  programme, so I'll have to listen again to that now! (I can find today's programmes.)