Afternoon Astronomy Coffee Hangout 14 June
Carol Christian STScI
"Interesting Physics: Do Some Dark Matter Particles Possess an Electric Charge?"
Evidence for dark matter has been known for over half a century based on its gravitational pull on the familiar luminous matter that we observe in the universe. Although dark matter is essential for holding galaxies together, it does not appear to emit or absorb light. We therefore cannot observe it directly. A recent experiment called EDGES reported evidence of radio absorption by cold hydrogen in the early universe, which could be explained by a weak interaction between normal matter and dark matter. A team of scientists proposed that this interaction could arise naturally if a small fraction of the dark matter particles are slightly electrically charged. If true, this claim would provide the first evidence for the nature of dark matter with fundamental implications beyond the standard model of particle physics.
Join Tony Darnell and Carol Christian during Afternoon Astronomy Coffee on Thursday, 14 June, at 3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (21:00 UTC) as they discuss with the investigators Avi Loeb, Cora Dvorkin, and Julian Munoz (Harvard University) this amazing idea and the implications their model has for understanding dark matter and the makeup of the universe.
During the hangout, you can take part in the live chat and join the conversation on Twitter with #AstroCoffee. An archive of previous hangouts in this series may be found in the Deep Astronomy YouTube playlist.
What Are "Afternoon Astronomy Coffee" and "Future in Space" Hangouts?
"Future In Space” and "Afternoon Astronomy Coffee" Hangouts are part of a weekly series, held every Thursday, that also includes a segment called "Footsteps to Mars." We bring the the latest research in astronomy, highlights from the future of space astronomy and astronautics planning, as well as updates on the exploration of Mars to you every week via Hangouts on Air. With the sponsorship of both the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Astronautical Society (the other AAS), our hosts Tony Darnell, Carol Christian, Alberto Conti, and Harley Thronson examine today's breakthroughs in research and peer into the unfolding possibilities of what we may learn about the universe and Mars exploration. We join with members of the American Astronomical Society to chat, in an informal online setting modeled after "science coffee" events held in universities and research organizations across the country. We will examine what we hope to learn about exoplanets, black holes, the early universe, quasars, and life in the universe along with what technologies might help us — and reflect upon the scientific endeavors occurring today that uncover amazing astrophysics and lay the groundwork for studies to come.
We will also explore the technology and engineering used today as well as possibilities for future space travel and research with members of both societies, and probe what our future in space may look like and how we might get there. We will examine the underlying technologies of space telescopes, orbiters, landers, and human space vehicles now and in the years to come. We will delve into topics that help us understand the possibilities and limitations of human space flight and eventual human colonization of other worlds.
We hope you can join us each month as we bring experts from both societies — people who think about and plan for our future in space — to your computer, tablet, or smartphone. We invite you to bring your questions and comments and get ready to learn about the amazing possibilities for the future of space astronomy and exploration.