Exploring the Absence of Dark Matter Deaths: A Scientific Inquiry
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Chapter 1: Understanding Dark Matter
Dark matter, which constitutes about 85% of the universe, remains an enigma. Surprisingly, there are very few accounts of supposed fatalities linked to dark matter. This has led a group of American physicists to investigate the potential implications of dark matter on human life.
"In our study, we explore the hypothetical impacts of dark matter on humanity," says lead researcher Jagjit Singh Sidhu, a doctoral student at Case Western Reserve University. "Understanding the various candidates for dark matter is crucial since we still don't know what it actually is."
Section 1.1: The Concept of Macroscopic Dark Matter
Sidhu's research is guided by physicist Glenn Starkman, who in 2014 proposed a type of dark matter known as "macros." These macroscopic dark matter particles, as they are called, could behave quite differently from traditional particle dark matter candidates like weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).
"Unlike WIMPs, which pass through matter without interaction," Starkman explains, "macros would interact significantly with ordinary matter, leading to observable consequences."
Subsection 1.1.1: Granite as a Detection Medium
Starkman and Sidhu recently proposed using granite slabs to detect macro dark matter. "As macros traverse the granite, they would melt it, which upon cooling would transform into obsidian," Starkman notes. "We could then identify these obsidian trails in granite similar to what is found in kitchens."
Section 1.2: Human Impact of Macros
Inspired by their granite study, Bob Scherrer from Vanderbilt University considered the potential effects of macros on the human body. His calculations suggested that such interactions could lead to observable injuries in humans.
"A macro can be likened to a hyper-dense bullet traveling at incredibly high speeds," Starkman describes. "This could result in a devastating effect on biological tissues, akin to a lightsaber slicing through flesh."
Chapter 2: The Absence of Evidence
The first video, "Why we have not discovered dark matter: A theorist's apology," delves into the complexities surrounding the understanding and detection of dark matter, discussing the various theories and why empirical evidence remains elusive.
The second video, "The Story of Dark Matter | Crash Course Pods: The Universe #6," provides an engaging overview of dark matter's role in the universe, its properties, and the ongoing quest to uncover its mysteries.
Despite the theoretical framework established in their study, the authors found no recorded incidents of macro-related fatalities. They propose that this lack of evidence restricts the possible size and mass of macros, indicating they may be quite small.
"The absence of reported injuries related to dark matter suggests that macros must be limited in size and mass," the authors conclude.
This research opens up new avenues for contemplating dark matter, asserting that even if these ideas remain theoretical, they can guide future investigations into the nature of dark matter. Starkman emphasizes, "Narrowing down the possibilities of dark matter candidates brings us closer to understanding what it truly is."
In conclusion, Starkman and Sidhu are committed to investigating obsidian trails in granite, suggesting that affordable and engaging methods can advance dark matter research. "We don't need extravagant funding to explore these ideas," Starkman affirms. "There are numerous intriguing aspects waiting to be discovered."