China launches satellite to reveal dark matter secretsDecember 18, 2015 - 10:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Dark matter is that pesky, hidden material that keeps foiling scientists' efforts to come up with a grand unified theory of physics. China's space agency has set about to find it with the launch of DAMPE, the Dark Matter Particle Explorer, Engadget reports. It successfully made it into a 500 km (300 mile) high geosynchronous orbit aboard a Long March-2D launch vehicle. The DAMPE satellite is essentially a powerful space telescope tuned for the detection of high-energy gamma rays, electrons and cosmic rays. Once ready, it'll peer into corners of space where scientists believe dark matter lurks. Astronomers aren't even exactly sure what dark matter is, but the dominant theory is that it's made up of weakly interacting particles (WIMPs). While difficult to detect in space because they don't emit light, they should annihilate into high-energy gamma rays or charged particles that do. Since DAMPE is now the highest-resolution dark matter probe in space, it's well-poised to detect such particles. "DAMPE will measure the spectra of gamma-rays and cosmic rays with very high energy resolution and then look for possible signals of dark matter annihilation or decay," says mission team member Professor Fan Yizhong. It could, however, take years for the probe to turn up any signs of the unicorn-like particles. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |