Thread: Dark Matter

In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is a theoretical form of matter that is undetectable by its emitted radiation, but whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter.^[1] According to present observations of structures larger than galaxies, as well as Big Bang cosmology, dark matter and dark energy could account for the vast majority of the mass in the observable universe.

So, scientifically speaking, dark matter is about as observable as the presence of God?

Theoretical
Undetectable
Presence can be inferred from...
"could account for..."



OK, let's go!

Nope, I would rather just wait until they either prove it or disprove it...
Then again maybe Dark Matter is a God????? or maybe "Heaven" resides inside Dark Matter???? So many things to ponder Like do I mod this blade or do I leave it Vintage so many things that need my pondering

Scientifically speaking, dark matter and presence of God are something that should not be compared.
While it is true that dark matter is a theory that only explains things that can't be explained otherwise. Ok you got me in this, but as the scientific researches go on, we will get more information, little by little, is there such thing at all or is it something else not yet discovered.

That is where it differs from God. Of course you knew that

A timely subject. Nothing conclusive yet, but recently there have been encouraging results in an experiment devised to detect the hypothetical components of dark matter.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Nope, I would rather just wait until they either prove it or disprove it...
Then again maybe Dark Matter is a God????? or maybe "Heaven" resides inside Dark Matter???? So many things to ponder Like do I mod this blade or do I leave it Vintage so many things that need my pondering

To ponder, or not to ponder, that is indeed the question! Nah, I'll leave it.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Nope, I would rather just wait until they either prove it or disprove it...
Then again maybe Dark Matter is a God????? or maybe "Heaven" resides inside Dark Matter???? So many things to ponder Like do I mod this blade or do I leave it Vintage so many things that need my pondering

Mod it! You know you want to

Originally Posted by Sailor

Scientifically speaking, dark matter and presence of God are something that should not be compared.
While it is true that dark matter is a theory that only explains things that can't be explained otherwise. Ok you got me in this, but as the scientific researches go on, we will get more information, little by little, is there such thing at all or is it something else not yet discovered.

That is where it differs from God. Of course you knew that

Is that so very different after all?

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but the presence of dark matter in the universe IS observable. In fact, it's the observations that led scientists to conclude that there is such a thing as dark matter. To put it simply, we can calculate how much matter there is in a given galaxy by adding up the amount of observable matter (basically, stars), and we can calculate the rate of rotation of each galaxy. The problem is that the rate of rotation and the amount of matter are related to each other by some very basic laws of physics, but the observations of matter and rotation do not add up, no matter where you look. Which is why people suspect that there is some other large quantity of matter in each galaxy that is affecting the rate of rotation but otherwise is not part of the galaxy's stars, hence dark matter.

In other words, the mystery is really limited what dark matter actually is. And there wouldn't be much of a mystery there either if we had practical ways to travel interstellar distances, but right now, basically the only way that we know what something outside our solar system is composed of is by observing its radiation, and there is apparently no radiation from dark matter (that's the dark part) so we just don't know what it is.

Now, if you want to talk about a physical phenomenon that is analogous to God, maybe you should stick to dark energy, but I digress . . . !

Originally Posted by Seraphim

So, scientifically speaking, dark matter is about as observable as the presence of God?

Theoretical
Undetectable
Presence can be inferred from...
"could account for..."

You glossed over the most important part - 'effects on visible matter'
Now you can argue whether God has any such effect or it is a wishful thinking, make believe and just human psychology.
But yes, dark matter is probably just another way of saying that there are things that are not completely explained by the current science. Same argument, actually, used to explain any 'odd' things about God (humans just can't comprehend it).

But I do have a couple of pitchers full of water in the kitchen, so feel free to convert them into Montrachet any time. As far as I remember that's the very first thing a man called Jesus allegedly did as evidence of being God. I'm pretty sure if God is on the same level as dark matter repeatability is not going to be an issue.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Is that so very different after all?

Maybe the difference is that dark matter will get a scientific explanation sooner or later. The same wont happen with God (or if does, then he/she/it has found his scientific limits as well and will not be almighty anymore = no God at all).
Maybe we should worship Newton