Mystery 'dark flow' extends towards edge of universe

[n2doc]

16 November 2009 by Marcus Chown

SOMETHING big is out there beyond the visible edge of our universe. That's the conclusion of the largest analysis to date of over 1000 galaxy clusters streaming in one direction at blistering speeds. Some researchers say this so-called "dark flow" is a sign that other universes nestle next door.

Last year, Sasha Kashlinsky of the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and colleagues identified an unusual pattern in the motion of around 800 galaxy clusters. They studied the clusters' motion in the "afterglow" of the big bang, as measured by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). The photons of this afterglow collide with electrons in galaxy clusters as they travel across space to the Earth, and this subtly changes the afterglow's temperature.

Many researchers argued the dark flow would not turn up in later observations, but now the team claim to have confirmed its existence. Their latest analysis reveals 1400 clusters are part of the flow, and that it continues to around 3 billion light years from Earth, a sizeable fraction of the distance to the edge of the observable universe (arxiv.org/abs/0910.4958). This is twice as far as seen in the previous study.

The dark flow appears to have been caused shortly after the big bang by something no longer in the observable universe. It has no effect today because reaching across this horizon would involve travelling faster than light.

more:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427345.000-mystery-dark-flow-extends-towards-edge-of-universe.html

[derby378]

1. Howdy, neighbor universe!

Of course, if that's true, we're going to need to come up with a catchy name for our own universe as opposed to the other one.

[Louisiana1976]

2. C.S. Lewis said something like,

"There's a wonderful universe next door. Let's go!"

[starroute]

6. e.e. cummings, actually

I didn't know either, until I checked -- but I knew it couldn't be Lewis, who was never that enthusiastic.

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/41701

listen: there’s a hell
of a good universe next door; let’s go

[roguevalley]

11. consider how crappy this one is, I can pack. I truly believe I took a

left turn and ended up in the wrong universe anyway.

[laconicsax]

4. We're Universe A, they're Universe B

[Canuckistanian]

9. I hope they're friendly

I'd hate to have to move to get away from them.

[tridim]

15. I liked Universe 420 the best

Home of Dr. Freaksworth. :)

[tridim]

3. I hope the multiverse theory is eventually proved, just because it's so damn cool.

Gooooooo Science!

[silverweb]

13. Ditto that.

So awesomely damn cool! :)

[whopis01]

5. There are only two universes. Just this one and the cowboy one. n/t

[Vincardog]

7. Actually there are two universes. Just this one and the FUNDIE one How else can you explain the

refugees form reality showing up at the TeaBooger parties?

[Quantess]

8. The fundie universe ends 100 miles past Pluto's orbit.

(That's as far as Sarah Palin can see from her house).

[Ready4Change]

10. Don't you watch Star Trek? The other one is Evil, not Cowboy.

But I'm caught by that last paragraph, that claims the flow appears to be caused by something no longer in the apparent universe, something we can't see with moving faster than light.

It makes me think of wind tunnels. Mounts that hold an object in the flow, but with greatly affecting that flow.

[derby378]

12. If, by any chance, that "something" is still travelling faster than light...

...the source of this "dark flow" would pose us with two distinct possibilities:

(1) Our universe has a physical boundary that can be crossed, leading into "a space beyond space," and

(2) The "dark flow," provided that its origin is still travelling faster than light, may be analogous to a cosmic sonic boom, only one in which light is involved instead of sound.

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. Ah...... the dark force vs the Jedi way.... the ying and yang

interesting the forces have negative or positive energy which are such blaze
terms to describe the balance which
is necessary for the equalization of our universe.
And We have only recognized ........ just certain things


I think using the term dark matter confuses the public.
I see in terms of a balance

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. What did light evolve from?