Audio
Archive
2013
January
February
March
April
May
2012
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2011
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2010
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2009
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2008
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2007
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Subscribe
Sep. 17, 2010
Strange Physics: Dark Flow, Fine Structure Constant
Click 
to enlarge images
to enlarge images
|
|
Tweet |
|
Several years ago, researchers reported an unexpected motion of several galactic clusters towards one area of the universe. The effect, which came to be known as 'dark flow,' has puzzled cosmologists. We'll talk about the mind-boggling idea that stuff we can't see within our visible universe could be causing gravitational effects on visible matter. We'll also hear about new studies into the fine structure constant -- which some researchers say may not be so constant after all. Can the rules of physics differ from one place to another? Or are indications of a non-constant fine structure constant signs of other new physics yet to be discovered? |
Produced by Annette Heist, Senior Producer
Guests
-
Michael Turner
Director and Rauner Distinguished Service Professor
Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
RELATED READING
Einstein's Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe
by Evalyn Gates
Dark Side of the Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Cosmos
by Iain Nicolson
The 4 Percent Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Race to Discover the Rest of Reality
by Richard Panek
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED BLOG POSTS
- Are We Alone in the Universe?
It seems incredible that Earthlings could be the first technological society. So where is everyone?
- Behind the Scenes With the James Webb Space Telescope
The frame of the James Webb Space Telescope is being built right in Salt Lake City's backyard, in a small town called Magna. Aer...
- How to Get 6,000 People to Talk Science
Bill Nye and I were on a panel discussing how to tell stories about science.
- Meet Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist & Ice Skater
When he's not creating equations that help explain the universe, Michio Kaku is spinning on ice.
Discussion