Gas Rich Galaxies Confirm Prediction of Modified Gravity Theory

Modern cosmology says that for the universe to behave as it does, the mass-energy of the universe must be dominated by dark matter and dark energy. However, direct evidence for the existence of these invisible components remains lacking. An alternate, though unpopular, possibility is that the current theory of gravity does not suffice to describe the dynamics of cosmic systems.


A few theories that would modify our understanding of gravity have been proposed. One of these is Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), which was hypothesized in 1983 by Moti Milgrom a physicist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. One of MOND's predictions specifies the relative relationship between the mass of any galaxy and its flat rotation velocity. However, uncertainties in the estimates of masses of stars in star-dominated spiral galaxies (such as our own Milky Way) previously had precluded a definitive test.

To avoid this problem, McGaugh examined gas rich galaxies, which have relatively fewer stars and a preponderance of mass in the form of interstellar gas. "We understand the physics of the absorption and release of energy by atoms in the interstellar gas, such that counting photons is LIKE counting atoms. This gives us an accurate estimate of the mass of such galaxies," McGaugh said.

Using recently published work that he and other scientists had done to determine both the mass and flat rotation velocity of many gas rich galaxies, McGaugh compiled a sample of 47 of these and compared each galaxy's mass AND rotation velocity with the relationship expected by MOND. All 47 galaxies fell on or very close to the MOND prediction. No dark matter model performed as well.

Read more at Science Times

OK well I must be behind the curve because I have never heard of this theory however this was predicted over a quarter century ago. Neither theory is very solid but I think I like this one a bit more because it is measurable and unlie dark matter.....well we know something is there we can see it.

Maybe I have just taken a liking to it because it is new to me. Whats the saying? Ooooh shiny.

Anyway I am sure someone will be along to set me strait on the matter but I am fine with that because I am not trying to pretend that I have a vast knowledge on the subject. I do love some "edumacation" though.

Classic, modify theories to better fit observation. But what is amusing is that we have absolutely no way to know what happens at the plancK unit. What if phenomena in the quantum foam could be the answer to mass equilibrium. If 1 atom of H in 1 cubic meter of intergalactic space adds up to 40% of the total mass of baryonic matter imagine the potential at Zeptometers and under if "something" lurks in there.

reply to post by Golantrevize


What!!!!

I think I will wait for Phage at least with him I know he will speak english.


otential I am pretty sure you meant potential but that still doesn't help.

Sorry I just mean that with so much parameter not accessible to us for the moment when trying to unite QM and GR that it seems a bit easy to come up with mathematics validating observations when so much is still out of hands. But thats how we climb up the latter step by stp following on the work of others.

Just assume that the inflation of space occurs on all scales, instead of occurring only between galaxies and clusters. That will fix it.

OK well I must be behind the curve because I have never heard of this theory however this was predicted over a quarter century ago.

You probably haven't heard of it because it's an unpopular theory which has many flaws, which you can read about in articles such as this one. I should also point out that your article is from 2011 and is quite outdated now.

Neither theory is very solid but I think I like this one a bit more because it is measurable and unlie dark matter

It's very possible to measure dark matter, you just have to do it indirectly. All mass bends space, dark matter included. If dark matter didn't exist then galaxies wouldn't have so much mass and they wouldn't bend light so dramatically. The best example of this is a recent observation which shows that dark matter cores can actually separate from their partner galaxies and we can see space warping where there is no visible mass at all. It is impossible to explain how that can occur without dark matter.

It was the result no one wanted to believe. Astronomers observed what appeared to be a clump of dark matter left behind during a bizarre wreck between massive clusters of galaxies.

The dark matter collected into a "dark core" containing far fewer galaxies than would be expected if the dark matter and galaxies hung together. Most of the galaxies apparently have sailed far away from the collision. This result could present a challenge to basic theories of dark matter, which predict that galaxies should be anchored to the invisible substance, even during the shock of a collision.

The initial observations, made in 2007, were so unusual that astronomers shrugged them off as unreal, due to poor data. However, new results from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope confirm that dark matter and galaxies parted ways in the gigantic merging galaxy cluster called Abell 520, located 2.4 billion light-years away.

Dark Matter Core Defies Explanation in Hubble Image

Mon1k3r
Just assume that the inflation of space occurs on all scales, instead of occurring only between galaxies and clusters. That will fix it.

No, that does not fix anything.

reply to post by Grimpachi


People want to believe in Dark Matter because the idea came from a Super intelligent Dwarf in a wheel chair, the stuff sci fi fantasy is made from.

ChaoticOrder

Mon1k3r
Just assume that the inflation of space occurs on all scales, instead of occurring only between galaxies and clusters. That will fix it.

No, that does not fix anything.

Did you try it?

AthlonSavage
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

People want to believe in Dark Matter because the idea came from a Super intelligent Dwarf in a wheel chair, the stuff sci fi fantasy is made from.

lMFAO!!!! I will have to say that it is nice to hear opposition to a so called physics Demi god!!!!
Apparently you don't see eye to eye with Hawkins and you are entreated to your opinion but hat was a tad bit harsh lol.

agentblue

AthlonSavage
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

People want to believe in Dark Matter because the idea came from a Super intelligent Dwarf in a wheel chair, the stuff sci fi fantasy is made from.

lMFAO!!!! I will have to say that it is nice to hear opposition to a so called physics Demi god!!!!
Apparently you don't see eye to eye with Hawkins and you are entreated to your opinion but hat was a tad bit harsh lol.

Unfortunately, it was just a display of outright bigotry - dark matter has nothing to do with Hawkins; it was the brain child of Jan Oort (famous for the Oort cloud hypothesis).

As to the OP - MOND was always considered a bit of a hack, proposed by the dark matter naysayers, and never really explained observations (as pointed out above).

I don't know about Dark Matter, but Dark Energy is simply the energy of vacuum, it drives the expansion of space. en.wikipedia.org...

The existence of vacuum energy has been confirmed through the Casimir Effect.