Possible dark matter galaxy discovered

[Squeegee]

Astronomers have discovered what they believe to be a galaxy made entirely of dark matter.

http://www.physorg.com/news3154.html

[jojo54]

1. Maybe it's the ever elusive worm hole?

Not being sarcastic here. Obviously, it's a very complex thing.

[Squeegee]

4. Possible, but keep in mind that...

Worm holes are merely speculative, there is no theory that can definitively support or disprove their existence. General Relativity says that under some very exotic conditions, they can be created. Unfortunately these "exotic conditions" cannot be shown to be possible until there is a workable theory of quantum gravitation, which does not exist at this time.

Can worm holes be as big and massive as a galaxy? Can they rotate? Can they even exist at all? There is really no answer.

[DrGonzoLives]

7. Everything I've read on wormholes

suggests that if they do exist, it's most likely that they are microscopic in size. The idea of a galaxy-sized one is very, very unlikely.

[jedr]

2. is it near Texas?

this could explain Bush and friends!

[Enquiringkitty]

3. Are they selling lots there yet? I need to move.

[Jensen]

5. LOL !!!!!

:yourock:

[Squeegee]

6. A better article

http://www.nature.com/physics/physics.taf?file=/physics/highlights/7029-1.html

[pmbryant]

8. Maybe. Maybe not. :-)

Apparently some astronomers think this observation isn't quite what the authors think it is (via Preposterous Universe):

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7056

Merrifield says that the shortfall in the observed amount of hydrogen may mean that what Minchin and his team have seen is not a dark galaxy after all. "Their story doesn't quite hang together, and I would speculate that they have been fooled by two passing hydrogen clouds." The difference in speed as one passes the other would give the illusion of rotation, he says.

Further observations should help clear up that possibility, I'm sure.

--Peter