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Dark Matter - Is Its Existence Grossly Exaggerated?
Many Astrophysicists believe that most of the matter in the universe is dark -- that is it cannot be detected from the light which it emits (or fails to emit). By some accounts, 90% of the universe is made up of this mystereious Dark Matter. Its presence is inferred indirectly from the motions of astronomical objects - specifically stars, galaxies, galaxy clusters, and galaxy superclusters. However, there may be another possible explanation. Instead of the existence of unseen material, maybe our understanding of Gravity is incorrect. If that is the case, then current calculations for the amount of Dark Matter in the Universe are grossly exaggerated. New research has revealed that a simple "fine-tuning" of Einstein's theory of gravity could solve the Dark Matter mystery that has baffled Astrophysicists for three-quarters of a century.
NASA's Chandra Finds Evidence for Quasar Ignition
New data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory may provide clues to how quasars "turn on." Since the discovery of quasars over 40 years ago, astronomers have been trying to understand the conditions surrounding the birth of these immensely powerful objects. <b>NOTE: French, German, Italian, and Spanish translations follow...</b>
Comets May Be the Source of Earth's Ocean Water
The Earth is believed to have formed hot and dry, meaning that its current water content must have been delivered after the planet cooled. Now, a new class of hybrid Comet/Asteroids orbiting among the rocky asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter may hold clues to the original source of Earth's ocean water.
Black Holes Much More Prevalent than Originally Thought
Astrophysicists at Penn State University have found that Super Massive Black Holes, like those found in the center of Galaxies, are more numerous than originally thought. Extrapolations from the 600 black holes recently found by the Chandra Space Observatory suggest that there are about 300 million Super Massive Black Holes in the whole sky detectable from Earth.
Spinning Black Hole Leaves Dent in Space-Time
Using NASA's Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (XRTE), MIT astrophysicists have found a black hole that has chiseled a remarkably stable indentation in the fabric of space and time. The finding may help scientists measure a black hole's mass and how it spins, two long-sought measurements, by virtue of the extent of this indentation.
Cosmic Jet Looks Like Giant Tornado in Space
Astronomers examining a region where new stars are forming found a surprise - an object that looks like a giant tornado in space. The apparent tornado is shaped by a cosmic jet packing a powerful punch as it plows through clouds of interstellar gas and dust. The scientists could only speculate about the source of the spiral appearance.
Proteins and DNA Building Blocks Found in Stellar Disk
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has been used to discover some of life's most basic ingredients in the dust swirling around a young star. The ingredients -- gaseous precursors to DNA and protein -- were detected in a region around the star where rocky planets such as Earth are thought to be born. The findings represent the first time that these gases, called acetylene and hydrogen cyanide, have been detected outside of our Solar System.
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