Astronomy / Space Ghost galaxy discovered "free of any Dark Matter"

[Thargon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43543195

This is interesting. It may confirm that dark matter is real stuff (because its effects are observed elsewhere, but not in this galaxy). Or it could also prove the opposite.

Too early to say.

My personal thought is that dark matter isn't a real thing, and its a more deeper implication or correction that needs to be done on the metric of spacetime, which is a consequence of some deeper underlying physics.

 

[PiggyPiggyPig]

If I understood it correctly, spiral galaxies contain much more matter than diffuse galaxies. Sounds to me like we don't yet know how spiral galaxies work and so therefore enlisted the forces of dark matter to try and explain the galaxy rotation problem.

 

[Archduke]

so therefore enlisted the forces of dark matter

It was determined that the visible matter and energy contributions were insufficeint to account for the measured dynamics according to our knowledge and understand of gravitation. Therefore, it was logical to consider either: Modification to our knowledge of GR - OR - a further contribution due to as yet unknown source. This source was given the epithet "Dark Matter" since it did not appear to radiate any known energies (theoretical graviton emission notwithstandin) - yetmaintained gravitational influence. It was the paradoxical measurement of dynamics conflicting with understood physics that gave rise to the idea of 'dark matter', there was no prior existing DM which was called in to account for the perceived difference.

 

[edd]

Not just spirals. Ellipticals need it too. And other types.