'first direct evidence' of thunderstorms blasting antimatter

[Anuki Profile]

Scientists monitor 'first direct evidence' of thunderstorms blasting antimatter clouds into space

11th January 2011

It was once the preserve of Star Trek and other science-fiction television shows.

But scientists looking at thunderstorms through a telescope have now picked up on antimatter clouds being blasted into space from Earth.

The phenomenon is produced by a reaction inside thunderstorms when circling the planet.

Spotted above thunderstorms around the world, the blasts were monitored by Nasa researchers using the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.


Visualisation: Nasa scientists looking at storms through a telescope have now picked up on antimatter clouds being blasted into space from Earth

The telescope was able to research terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), which happen when a burst of antimatter energy is emitted inside a thunderstorm.

It is estimated that about 500 TGFs occur daily worldwide, but most go undetected and none have ever been studied until now.

Researchers hope the study will eventually shed more light on the theory that a whole antimatter universe exists alongside our own.

Joseph Dwyer at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, said: 'Even though Fermi couldn't see the storm, the spacecraft nevertheless was magnetically connected to it.

'The TGF produced high-speed electrons and positrons, which then rode up Earth's magnetic field to strike the spacecraft.'

Michael Briggs, a member of Fermi's Gamma-ray Burst Monitor team at the University of Alabama, presented the results to yesterday's American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle.

He said: 'These signals are the first direct evidence that thunderstorms make antimatter particle beams.'

Scientists long have suspected TGFs arise from the strong electric fields near the tops of thunderstorms.

Michael Briggs, a member of Fermi's Gamma-ray Burst Monitor team at the University of Alabama, presented the results to yesterday's American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle.

He said: 'These signals are the first direct evidence that thunderstorms make antimatter particle beams.'


How the phenomenon was monitored: The cloud of electrons and positrons passes through the Fermi Space Telescope, causing it to emit gamma-rays


Scientists long have suspected TGFs arise from the strong electric fields near the tops of thunderstorms.

Under the right conditions, they say, the field becomes strong enough that it drives an upward avalanche of electrons.

Reaching speeds nearly as fast as light, the high-energy electrons give off gamma rays when they're deflected by air molecules. Normally, these gamma rays are detected as a TGF.

Although Fermi is designed to observe high-energy events in the universe, it's also providing valuable insights into this strange phenomenon.

It constantly monitors the entire celestial sky above and the Earth below and 130 TGFs have been identified since Fermi's launch in 2008.

Ilana Harrus, Fermi program scientist at Nasa Headquarters in Washington, said: 'In orbit for less than three years, the Fermi mission has proven to be an amazing tool to probe the universe.

'Now we learn that it can discover mysteries much, much closer to home.'

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Anu-Ki

[Anuki Profile]

UFOs recharging with thunderstorm/nasa mission sightings.

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Anu-Ki

[99socks Profile]

Wow, wtf? Neat-o!

[Donovan Profile]

cool info thanks anuki hope all is well with you.