Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: jysk on 25/08/2006 20:26:58

Title: Dark Matter and Relativity
Post by: jysk on 25/08/2006 20:26:58
On Aug. 21, Robert and Neilep shared an exciting press release from NASA that suggested proof of Dark Matter. It included what I would almost discribe as a throw-away line that said;

"This result also gives scientists more confidence that the Newtonian gravity familiar on Earth and in the solar system also works on the huge scales of galaxy clusters."

I'm a big fan of Newtonian gravity. I understand its effects. It is at the root of every childhood injury I can remember.

On the other hand and only occasionally, I nearly understand Special Relativity. When I really "see it", it is quite elegant, but its an unnatural way to think about real, everyday mechanics.

Will NASA's new findings impact Relativity in any way?

Mike
Title: Re: Dark Matter and Relativity
Post by: weed4me on 25/08/2006 23:09:32
No. As always NASA will find a way to screw it up.

"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is."
Title: Re: Dark Matter and Relativity
Post by: Soul Surfer on 30/08/2006 10:31:58
I presume this relates to the recent observations relating to two colliding clusters of galaxies separating the optically visible hot gas in the cluster from the gravitiationally visible "dark matter".

This does not have any significance to relativity but is a way of proving that the MOdified Newtonian Dynamics  (MOND)  theories proposed as an alternative to dark matter are less likely to be right.

Relatavistic processes (as opposed to quantum mechanical processes)are only important at extreeme temeperatures (particle speeds) and densities  ie close to neutron stars and black holes.



Learn, create, test and tell
evolution rules in all things
God says so!
Title: Re: Dark Matter and Relativity
Post by: Soul Surfer on 30/08/2006 10:31:58
I presume this relates to the recent observations relating to two colliding clusters of galaxies separating the optically visible hot gas in the cluster from the gravitiationally visible "dark matter".

This does not have any significance to relativity but is a way of proving that the MOdified Newtonian Dynamics  (MOND)  theories proposed as an alternative to dark matter are less likely to be right.

Relatavistic processes (as opposed to quantum mechanical processes)are only important at extreeme temeperatures (particle speeds) and densities  ie close to neutron stars and black holes.



Learn, create, test and tell
evolution rules in all things
God says so!