Mysterious Dark Matter Possibly Detected

[mickw]

When dark matter is destroyed, it leaves behind a burst of exotic particles, according to theory. Now scientists have found a possible signature of these remains. The discovery could help prove the existence of dark matter and reveal what it's made of.

No one knows what dark matter is, but scientists think it exists because there is not enough gravity from visible matter to explain how galaxies rotate.

An Italian satellite called PAMELA (Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light nuclei Astrophysics), launched in 2006 to measure radiation in space, found an overabundance of particles called positrons, which are the antimatter counterpart to electrons (matter and antimatter annihilate each other).

More:   http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090401/sc_space/mysteriousdarkmatterpossiblydetected

[Rick]

Scientists have detected particles that may come from invisible "dark matter".

This is thought to make up 23% of the Universe, but can only be detected through its effects on "normal" matter.

Writing in the journal Nature, scientists relate how a satellite-borne instrument found an unexplained source of positrons in space.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7977102.stm

[Rick]

US scientists have reported the detection of signals that could indicate the presence of dark matter.

A team announced on Thursday detecting two events with characteristics "consistent with" what physicists believe make up the elusive matter.

The main announcement came from the Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8420089.stm