MIT researchers have discovered that “stars at the edge of our home galaxy appear to be moving more slowly than expected,” reports Jess Thomson. This discovery “implies that the galaxy itself may be structured differently from how scientists first thought, with the core of the Milky Way possibly containing less dark matter and, therefore, being lighter in mass than first assumed,” explains Thomson.
Scientific American reporter Daniel Garisto spotlights how a team of MIT researchers has uncovered hints of anomalous activity in heavy isotopes. “We’re not claiming to have discovered anything like a new particle,” says Prof. Vladan Vuletić. “Most likely, we are measuring new nuclear physics, but there is the possibility of something else going on.”
Profs. David Kaiser and Peter Fisher discuss the 95 percent of the universe that is made up of “two mysterious ingredients,” dark matter and dark energy, on NOVA Wonder. “[W]e know that dark matter and dark energy are in the grips of this cosmic competition,” said Kasier, “and which side, so to speak, has been winning has itself changed over time.”
Kathryn Jepsen of Symmetry writes that new results from the AMS experiment, an international collaboration led by MIT Prof. Samuel Ting, indicate the detection of dark matter may be within reach. “It’s really profound to me, the fact that we’re getting this fundamental data,” said NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan. “Once we understand it, it could change how we see the universe.”
Scientists behind the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment are reporting new data that point toward the potential detection of dark matter particles, according to NBC News. MIT physicist Samuel Ting, AMS's principal investigator, explains: “This is the first experimental observation of the positron fraction maximum after half a century of cosmic rays experiments."
Dennis Overbye of The New York Times writes about Illustris, a calculation by Professor Mark Vogelsberger’s team that mathematically models how dark matter evolved from its initial, uniform cloud. They found “the closest match yet between dark matter models and the distribution and types of galaxies in the visible universe,” writes Overbye.
“The goal of the simulation is to compare the actual cosmos — viewable via telescope — to the computer-created universe. The comparison will allow scientists to test if their theories on the creation of the universe work,” Salon reporter Sarah Gray writes of Illustris.
In an article posted on the Scientific American website, Elizabeth Gibney details the new computer model developed to simulate the Universe.
“The invisible web of dark matter and energy tying the universe together is recreated to the best of our knowledge, and the elements that make up stars and planets can be observed forming and coalescing,” Coldewey writes in an MSNBC article about Illustris.
Los Angeles Times reporter Deborah Netburn writes about the computer model developed to model the universe. The model is so accurate that, “a mock observation of galaxies from the Illustris model could pass for an image taken by the Hubble Ultra Deep Field Space Telescope,” Netburn reports.
Wired reporter Adam Mann writes about Illustris, the new computer model developed to model the history of the universe. Illustris can handle all elements of the universe’s 330 million light-year span, Mann reports.
Pallab Ghosh reports for BBC News on the new computer model of the universe developed by researchers from MIT and other institutions around the world.
The Associated Press reports on the new computer model of the universe developed by a team of researchers led by MIT Professor Mark Vogelsberger.
In an article published on Nature, Clara Moskovitz reports on the discovery of gamma rays shining from the center of the Milky Way, which researchers believe might be the first indirect detection of the particles that cause dark matter.
Space.com reporter Mike Wall explains new research findings that might help explain the nature of dark matter. “In the future we might well look back and say this was where we saw dark matter annihilation for the first time," Professor Tracy Slatyer is quoted as saying in the article.