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Negative Matter Fluid Theorized In New Paper

A new model of the universe, described today in Astronomy and Astrophysics, by Dr. Jamie Farnes from the Oxford e-Research Centre, Department of Engineering Science, offers an alternative to the current thinking about dark matter and dark energy.

"We now think that both dark matter and dark energy can be unified into a fluid which possesses a type of 'negative gravity," repelling all other material around them. Although this matter is peculiar to us, it suggests that our cosmos is symmetrical in both positive and negative qualities."

Proof of Dr. Farnes's theory will come from tests performed with a cutting-edge radio telescope known as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international endeavour to build the world's largest telescope in which the University of Oxford is collaborating.

(Via PhysOrg.)

I found out about the science fiction connection from this tweet:


Science fiction author and physicist Dr. Robert Forward described in a 1992 story how negative matter could be used to power a space ship:

"When that ball of negative matter was pulling Hiroshi and his test apparatus along, there was nothing going in the opposite direction. There was no reaction mass and no energy source involved, but they moved nevertheless. That means a large enough negative-matter ball electrostatically coupled to a positive-matter spacecraft can propel the spacecraft at any acceleration the crew can stand for as long as you want.. Flight to the stars at near light speed is no longer a dream . . ."
(Read more about Dr. Forward's negative matter space drive)

For the physics, see A Unifying Theory of Dark Energy and Dark Matter.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/5/2018)

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