Quantum Leap
 

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) was described in A meaningful goal for NASA

Eventually it got a ride. Mars: One Way

First evidence of Dark Matter may have been found according to the BBC on 3 April 2013. Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer zeroes in on dark matter

AMS is nicknamed the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) in Space. A major tool necessary for what is probably the future of today's kids - Quantum Physics.

Fascinating stuff, thanks tdub!

Most interesting.

Although, didn't that BBC report say the AMS was on the space station, that as we all know, does zero real science? ;)

And as for all this dark matter and dark energy talk, when are they going to come out and announce the discovery of the dark side of the force?

Oh no you di'int!

Geekfight! Geekfight!

Oh Lordy it's on!!

AMS was designed to be mounted on any other platform. ISS only provides the platform. Was the only available platform when the last shuttle needed a purpose and the AMS needed something to attach to.

AMS is attached outside. Operates independently.

AMS operation and data is monitored remotely from the ground. No astronaut intervention required other than to bolt it to the ISS.

George Jr wanted to send astronauts to discover the Dark Side of the Moon. Apparently god suggested it to him in music during a drinking binge.

I'm taking bets to see if there is a thread that tw doesn't talk about George Jr.

I'm also thinking that if there wasn't already evidence for dark matter/energy then we wouldn't know about the term. Like many things in the universe we see evidence for, but have no freaking idea what it is or the underlying mechanism for how it works. Much like George Jr's brain.

No evidence of dark matter / dark energy existed. But celestial behavior and the math (ie Hubble Constant, simulations) did not agree. Celestial behavior only agreed with math and simulations if dark energy/matter exists.

Dark matter/energy existed only in a hypothesis. Astronomers now need actual (experimental) evidence to confirm what was only a hypothesis based in math and simulations. That's why the AMS was constructed about 1998.

Same junior high science concepts applied to the Higgs bosom. Until recently, Higgs only existed in a 48 years old hypothesis. To have knowledge required $billions buried a few hundred feet underground. By merging experimental evidence to that hypothesis.

"Altered state" may be more accurate. The other guy does try to impersonate me now and again too, confusing the peeps.

Security is a challenge even for god.

Now, about those MBAs and bean counters.....

Welcome back God - you've not posted much recently.
Been busy?

Oh and thanks for the Thatcher thing. Although I assume the Other Chap's got her now.

The guy with the condom head is David Cameron, and I think the bloke in the gimp suit is his deputy, Nick Clegg...though I might be wrong about that. I lost touch with Steve Bell after John Major's demise.

Snicker. I don't think I even hear her voice any more, I only hear her Spitting Imagge voice (Steve Nallon.)

Now I am usually broadly in agreement with BBC Radio 5 Live.
But this week I'm sick and tired of hearing Nicky Campbell refer to people celebrating the Thatch's death as rejoicing in the death of an elderly and frail old lady. Bollocks to it.

Had she been physically atacked I'd have been right behind him, but she wasn't.
Can't be doing with all this don't-speak-ill-of-the-dead shit.
Poor old Jimmy Savile, frail old man. No. Okay he was a dirty crim and she probably wasn't (who knows - politicians are not known for their honesty in general.)

But she's not being execrated for being frail, old or a woman. Her death as a figurehead is being celebrated. Sorry she ended up unable to remember the harm she caused, but guess what? My Dad is unlikely to be able to recognise us when he dies. And it won't be in the bloody Ritz either.