ScienceCasts: A Whiff of Dark Matter on the ISS

In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is a type of matter hypothesized to account for a large part of the total mass in the universe. Dark matter cannot be seen directly with telescopes; evidently it neither emits nor absorbs light or other electromagnetic radiation at any significant level. Instead, its existence and properties are inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter, radiation, and the large-scale structure of the universe. According to the Planck mission team, and based on the standard model of cosmology, the total mass–energy of the universe contains 4.9% ordinary matter, 26.8% dark matter and 68.3% dark energy. Thus, dark matter is estimated to constitute 84.5% of the total matter in the universe.

On 3 April 2013, NASA scientists reported that hints of dark matter may have been detected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. According to the scientists, "The first results from the space-borne Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer confirm an unexplained excess of high-energy positrons in Earth-bound cosmic rays."

font: wikipedia

To know more about dark matter and dark energy follow this link: http://home.web.cern.ch/about/physics/dark-matter

CERN press release:

Geneva 3 April 2013. The international team running the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) today announced the first results in its search for dark matter. The results, presented by AMS spokesperson Professor Samuel Ting (...). They report the observation of an excess of positrons in the cosmic ray flux.

The AMS results are based on some 25 billion recorded events, including 400,000 positrons with energies between 0.5 GeV and 350 GeV, recorded over a year and a half. This represents the largest collection of antimatter particles recorded in space. The positron fraction increases from 10 GeV to 250 GeV, with the data showing the slope of the increase reducing by an order of magnitude over the range 20-250 GeV. The data also show no significant variation over time, or any preferred incoming direction. These results are consistent with the positrons originating from the annihilation of dark matter particles in space, but not yet sufficiently conclusive to rule out other explanations. [...]

HST2012, CERN - The End

First of all I would like to apologize to our readers for not giving news in recent days at CERN, it was absolutely impossible. Here is the balance of the last week of the HST program 2012:

The last week at CERN basically we develop and finalize the work group. Also, we visited the CERN Control Centre (we were the first teachers inside the room, after the glass door) and the AMS Control Center that is connected directly to the International Space Station. We visited, finally, the CMS detector, where we could see the numerous computers and cables that are connected to the detector, and the security door that requires a retinal scan to be able to get inside the tunnel where is the LHC pipes.

One of the Bósimon cards. This game promises.

On the last day we carried out presentations about our work group. All teachers (42 in total) participated in the presentation within your group. My group created a game called Bósimon, consisting of a mixture of Pókemon cards with our well-known game of "go fish" on the particle physics topic. The game is so addictive that even the organizers were delighted. What they thought impossible, our group became a reality. The next step will be to test it in the classroom environment, with high school students.

In short, I believe that my coming to CERN was positive, as well as making good friends, I got more knowledge (especially on the operation of the detectors), realized team work (which is the spirit of CERN), lived within the physics major events.

Let me give a big thanks to the team that organized the HST2012, to scientists, to workers and to the General Director for having treated us so well, just like equals. Never in my life I felt the real love, respect, value and attention as that demonstrated by CERN to teachers.

And now ... will be more adventures to come?