19 Feb '13 06:44>
We may know in two weeks.
http://news.yahoo.com/dark-matter-finally-found-big-news-coming-soon-144840916.html
http://news.yahoo.com/dark-matter-finally-found-big-news-coming-soon-144840916.html
Originally posted by humyThey also theorized black holes didn't exist even though we still couldn't see them. It is based on observation - on it's influence on the other celestial objects near them. We also still can't see atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, quarks and gluons, neutrinos, etc but we know they're there.
dark matter might not even exist for there are alternative explanations for the observed gravitational effects albeit just as speculative as the dark matter theory.
Theorizing about what exists that you cannot see is always a bit risky.
They could be trying to find something that isn't there.
Originally posted by woodypusherbut those things are not the same because we detect atoms, black holes etc via several different kinds of indirect observations of several different kinds of predicted effects of the existence of these things that are such that these observations would be hard to explain if those things did not exist ('hard' because we have no plausible alternative theories) while, with dark matter, all we have is observed gravitational effects which could be explained (by certain proposed alternative theories) if there was no dark matter.
They also theorized black holes didn't exist even though we still couldn't see them. It is based on observation - on it's influence on the other celestial objects near them. We also still can't see atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, quarks and gluons, neutrinos, etc but we know they're there.
Originally posted by humyI haven't heard of any alternate theories. 'Too early to tell'? It was first proposed in 1932.
but those things are not the same because we detect atoms, black holes etc via several different kinds of indirect observations of several different kinds of predicted effects of the existence of these things that are such that these observations would be hard to explain if those things did not exist ('hard' because we have no plausible alternativ ...[text shortened]... e is no dark matter; I would rather say it is a simple case of it being 'too early to tell'.
Originally posted by woodypusher
I haven't heard of any alternate theories. 'Too early to tell'? It was first proposed in 1932.
I haven't heard of any alternate theories.
Originally posted by humyThere will always be alternate theories before anything is proven. The universe was thought to exist in a steady state and benn arounf forever. Now we think it's there was a big bang because we know it is expanding. Up until the pont where Hubble proved this, it was 'too early to tell'.
I haven't heard of any alternate theories.
I can remedy that:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter#Alternative_theories
there is Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) made in 1983
and the Nonsymmetric Gravitational Theory (NGT) made in 2007
and there is dark fluid theory; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_fluid
-dark matt ...[text shortened]... o credible alternative theories for the observations that have lead to the theory of atoms etc.
Originally posted by woodypusherI think all laypeople should consider this;
There will always be alternate theories before anything is proven. The universe was thought to exist in a steady state and benn arounf forever. Now we think it's there was a big bang because we know it is expanding. Up until the pont where Hubble proved this, it was 'too early to tell'.
Dark matter is the one accepted by most in the scientific commun , EVERYTHING, until proven conclusively, will be 'too early to tell'. That was my point.
I haven't heard of any alternate theories that may be on the brink of being proven, like dark matter is.
Originally posted by woodypusherdid I say this was not what you had said?
<Wasn't there a time when most people, including scientists, thought the Earth was flat? -that one is no longer 'too early to tell' because we now know it to be false.>
Isn't that what I've been saying? Until dark matter - or anything else - is proven it's always too ealy to tell. I've said that three times already. Reread my posts. This time absorb it.