Scientists May Have Discovered Particle Predicted By Local Expert
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Scientists believe mysterious stuff called "dark matter" holds the universe together, and now they believe they may have found traces of it.
Scientists May Have Discovered Particle Predicted By Local Expert
University of Chicago cosmologist Michael Turner predicted an orbiting observatory might find an excess of positrons over electrons, from dark matter particles annihilating each other.
He points out dark matter is really important stuff even though we can't see it through optical telescopes.
"Without dark matter the universe doesn't work. Without dark matter our galaxy would fly apart," said Turner.
The experiment Turner envisioned, the orbiting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer has now turned up tracks of dark matter annihilation.
But Turner, at the U of C points out there's more research needed before anyone finds the dark matter particles themselves which go by the inelegant name WIMPs, weakly interacting massive particles.
