NASA'S Fermi Catches Thunderstorms Hurling Antimatter Into Space

[nalnn]

Source: NASA Press Release Archives

WASHINGTON -- Scientists using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have detected beams of antimatter produced above thunderstorms on Earth, a phenomenon never seen before.

Scientists think the antimatter particles were formed in a terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF), a brief burst produced inside thunderstorms and shown to be associated with lightning. It is estimated that about 500 TGFs occur daily worldwide, but most go undetected.

"These signals are the first direct evidence that thunderstorms make antimatter particle beams," said Michael Briggs, a member of Fermi's Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). He presented the findings Monday, during a news briefing at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle.

Fermi is designed to monitor gamma rays, the highest energy form of light. When antimatter striking Fermi collides with a particle of normal matter, both particles immediately are annihilated and transformed into gamma rays. The GBM has detected gamma rays with energies of 511,000 electron volts, a signal indicating an electron has met its antimatter counterpart, a positron.


Read more: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jan/HQ_11-008_Fermi_Thunderstorms.html

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This is potentially game changing. The prevalence of Gamma Radiation and its apparent correlation with anti-matter both in the universe abroad and here on earth holds the promise of a great local source of a nearly limitless resource for all sorts of applications. Very exciting.

[DoBotherMe]

1. K&R

[mopinko]

2. how cool is that?

gotta love the geeks.

[social_critic]

3. Gamma Radiation is correlated to anti-matter anihilation

There's no game changer here. Got to use your wood stove or its equivalent for the time being.

[nalnn]

6. Not all

You gotta think though that not all the anti-matter is annihilated. see the article's above quote, "These signals are the first direct evidence that thunderstorms make antimatter particle beams".


It's true though, I won't be ridding myself of my central heat any time in the foreseeable future LOL!

[Motown_Johnny]

8. anti matter being created naturally and on a regular basis isn't a game changer?

I'm not sure about that



If, and I do mean IF, we can reproduce the process at relatively low cost then it may be possible to capture the energies released when the positron and electron annihilate each other.



Yes, I said it. You don't need to read it again. I am theorizing about the possibility of an anti matter energy reactor.

[NBachers]

4. This is what the smart kids do. This is great- thanks for posting this

[BetsysGhost]

5. Recommended

even though I haven't the slightest idea what this means. :spray:

[Warren DeMontague]

7. I don't know why we have to waste money on NASA.

I mean, nothing good can possibly come out of learning about the universe we live in.

:sarcasm:

[Better Believe It]

9. Right! And that trip to the moon thing was a hollywood movie stunt!

Going to the moon.

It'll never happen!

:)

[Warren DeMontague]

10. There are a few here who actually believe that.

Arguing with them can make my head hurt.

[Better Believe It]

12. You're kidding .... right? I hope you are.

[neverforget]

14. Unfortunately, he's not. I've seen it too and it makes my head hurt too

[Buddyblazon]

11. Now...

all we need is some Dilithium Crystals...and we'll have this mofo up to Warp 9 in no time!

[Swamp Rat]

13. Neato... so, can we hurl Sarah Palin into outer space too?