Quote:
Originally Posted by marki
Craig I see these things as just another nail in the coffin of scientific credibility. I mean we freely slang off at astrologers, witch doctors etc but what are we really offering here? I get questions about dark matter, dark energy, noodle theory and so on all the time by my students and am finding it increasingly more difficult to say physicists know what they are doing and their studies are legitamate. I don't mean to hijack this thread but this stuff is really getting to me.
Mark
|
Mark;
I really think the difficulty people have is in 'getting' this concept.
And it is probably due to their own lack of knowledge in the theoretical areas underpinning the hypothesis.
Dark matter and dark energy evolved from observation.
The theoretical aspects are derived from mainstream theory and were
not invented.
This approach is exactly the same approach used in predicting the existence of Neptune (which can stand in as an analogy for dark matter). Scientists took an existing theory (Newtonian gravitational theory) and applied it as a perturbation to the orbit of Uranus. There was no need to alter the theory.
The same type of reasoning applies to explaining galaxy rotational curves, through the presence of dark matter.
Dark energy also has it's origins in quantum field theory. It attempts to explain the cosmological constant as a vacuum energy fluctuation.
The point is that neither dark matter or dark energy involves "new" physics or "magic". It's an increasing crossover of QFT into cosmology and celestial mechanics.
The fundamental problem with dark matter is that if it does exist, it will impact on the Standard Model in particle physics. If dark matter turns out to be ordinary matter observed at a different wavelength, then no such problem exists.
I urge those who question scientists and the science underpinning the concept of DM, to learn up more, rather than make accusations that other people don't know what they're talking about.
A lack of understanding is a very probable cause of not understanding something.
If you're a teacher, I'd expect you would appreciate this aspect.
Cheers