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from the and-hummingbirds-should-not-fly dept.
The apparent symmetry between matter and antimatter is puzzling scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN):
One of the great mysteries of modern physics is why antimatter did not destroy the universe at the beginning of time.
To explain it, physicists suppose there must be some difference between matter and antimatter – apart from electric charge. Whatever that difference is, it's not in their magnetism, it seems.
Physicists at CERN in Switzerland have made the most precise measurement ever of the magnetic moment of an anti-proton – a number that measures how a particle reacts to magnetic force – and found it to be exactly the same as that of the proton but with opposite sign. The work is described in Nature [open, DOI: 10.1038/nature24048] [DX].
"All of our observations find a complete symmetry between matter and antimatter, which is why the universe should not actually exist," says Christian Smorra, a physicist at CERN's Baryon–Antibaryon Symmetry Experiment (BASE) collaboration. "An asymmetry must exist here somewhere but we simply do not understand where the difference is."
Previously: Evidence Mounts that Neutrinos are the Key to the Universe's Existence
Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry Confirmed in Baryons
LHCb Observes an Exceptionally Large Group of Particles
Possible Explanation for the Dominance of Matter Over Antimatter in the Universe
(Score: 4, Interesting) by linkdude64 on Thursday October 26 2017, @04:26PM (2 children)
The thought occurred to me that clickbait headlines like this may be one reason "Anti-Science" agendas are allegedly being pushed.
From where I'm sitting, "The Universe shouldn't exist," translates to, "We don't know why the universe exists, but we won't admit that."
I would normally be skeptical that an educated person would be so arrogant as to say something of the sort, and that it MUST be the "journalist" (glorified blogger) or sensationalist editor who is responsible for such a headline, but then, I have met many sophomoric engineers and other degreed persons who are so clearly arrogant and holier-than-thou, that it really makes me wonder. Maybe the "science popularizers" are doing more harm than good, past a certain point.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 26 2017, @04:59PM (1 child)
The same asinine headline is all over the net. It's the way of media - it's not like they pay science reporters any better than sportswriters. At least sportswriters get to go on radio shows/espn for extra bucks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 26 2017, @11:35PM
I know! I know! Pick me! God did it! Ha! Science! What a bunch of quacks.