sciencecenter: Satellite Finds Evidence of Antimatter Belt Around Earth Data from the cosmic ray satellite PAMELA has added substantial weight to the theory that the Earth is encircled by a thin band of antimatter. The satellite, named Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics, was launched in 2006 to study the nature of cosmic rays — high-energy particles from the Sun and beyond the solar system which barrel into Earth. When those cosmic rays smash into molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, a shower of smaller particles is created. Physicists have assumed that a small number of those resulting particles will be anti-protons. Most of those will be instantly annihilated when they collide with particles of ordinary matter. But those which don’t collide should get trapped in the Earth’s torus-shaped Van Allen radiation belt, and form a layer of antimatter in the Earth’s atmosphere.

sciencecenter:

Satellite Finds Evidence of Antimatter Belt Around Earth

Data from the cosmic ray satellite PAMELA has added substantial weight to the theory that the Earth is encircled by a thin band of antimatter.

The satellite, named Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics, was launched in 2006 to study the nature of cosmic rays — high-energy particles from the Sun and beyond the solar system which barrel into Earth.

When those cosmic rays smash into molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, a shower of smaller particles is created. Physicists have assumed that a small number of those resulting particles will be anti-protons.

Most of those will be instantly annihilated when they collide with particles of ordinary matter. But those which don’t collide should get trapped in the Earth’s torus-shaped Van Allen radiation belt, and form a layer of antimatter in the Earth’s atmosphere.

(via itsfullofstars)

#science   #cosmology   #astronomy   #physics   #space  
9 months ago · 903 notes
  1. skyewarner reblogged this from sciencecenter
  2. tallpawl reblogged this from lepetitmortpourmoi
  3. kellyjoey reblogged this from rust-and-wishbones
  4. letmyfeetdothetalking reblogged this from rust-and-wishbones
  5. lepetitmortpourmoi reblogged this from cage-veil-cunt
  6. cage-veil-cunt reblogged this from rust-and-wishbones
  7. rust-and-wishbones reblogged this from becomingestel
  8. antfunny reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  9. hypergolic reblogged this from sciencecenter
  10. porcelai reblogged this from scientificillustration
  11. rhea91 reblogged this from s-cientia
  12. theron-maramo-tumblr-com reblogged this from scientificillustration
  13. jacketry reblogged this from scientificillustration
  14. paradoxofanultimatum reblogged this from itsfullofstars
  15. lolwutphotosynthesis reblogged this from scientificillustration
  16. moon-rabbits reblogged this from scientificillustration
  17. jmonstahj reblogged this from scientificillustration
  18. jorgello reblogged this from sciencecenter
  19. applepieskies reblogged this from lieserl
  20. milkywellsanctuary reblogged this from scientificillustration
  21. directfromthecosmos reblogged this from scientificillustration
  22. leitwortstil reblogged this from scientificillustration
  23. This was featured in #Science
  24. sciencecenter posted this