Why Study Dark Matter?

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Potential Futures


Dark Matter science is a marginalised pursuit in the public eye. Those who study and read of the studies of it are either obsessives or the curious. Education on the fact that four-fifths of known matter is missing is not pushed at any compulsory education level despite it being a fundamental truth of our existence and affecting our spiritual and philosophical self-awareness.

Why?
  • In the modern world, science is pursued only on the basis of commercial or political viability.
  • A project such as the definition of dark matter is very low-yield, The results would have no direct consequence politically or commercially.
  • The work is long-term, the chances of defining dark matter in the terms that politics and business work on is very small.
  • It carries a sense of the unknown, a philosophical voyage of discovery for those involved where the only reward is knowledge and understanding.
  • There is no short-term gratification.
What if dark matter physics went to the forefront of societal importance. Political and commercial aims were changed to an altruistic pursuit, or perhaps even a selfish one. What would it take?

The Utopia:
  • A fundamental shift in the minds of the public/political/commercial circles to an altruistic need to pursue a very human endeavour. This would require the solving of all current problems facing these parties; a utopian world where the pursuit of science is held in the highest regard.
    • Too unbelievable.
    • Rasies too many questions about how this world came about in the first place. Interest is distracted, the fiction is too large.
    • Possibly a very open-ended space to work in, raises possibilities of considering the worth of humanity once societal ills have been solved and even if they can be solved.
  • Perhaps the pursuit of dark matter is what solves societal ills. A switching to an altruistic way of thinking and believing in humanity results in these short-term pursuits being perceived as petty and unimportant.. A paradigm shift towards a further vision in fundamental human pursuits.
    • Led by the scientists originally studying dark matter. An almost religious shift towards this belief.
    • Perhaps there are perceivable real-world benefits to dark matter, although this somewhat undermines the purpose of the utopia. Perhaps it is some sort of unlimited resource.
The Breakthrough/Dystopia:
  • Previously unforeseen benefits to dark matter make the science of paramount importance. It suddenly becomes a competitive race to define it first in the style of the space race or the arms race. The winner would have an unlimited resource and the worse of human competitiveness comes out in the pursuit of it. A rumour escapes from labs causing a panic and the internationally competitive nature of some research groups means that scientist corrupt the truth in pursuit of money and glory.
    • Plays on the futility of competitive claims on things like the moon and arctic drilling space which are of no immediate use to anyone.
    • More believable, especially in light of things such as the space race. It's more in key with human behaviour to pursue something utterly pointless for the sake of glory than to pursue something for the sake of knowledge and humanity.
What if dark matter was found to have some fundamental value?
  • Would we pursue it's conquering for selfish commercial aims? On a state by state, business by business basis?
  • Would we unite, as the scientific community prefers too, to form an international project for the sake of humanity?
This is probably the most interesting area to look at.

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The Workings; An Elephant in the Room

Super hi-tech?
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Vehicle Acoustic Monitoring

In 2010, automakers launched four electric vehicles, with promises of improved emissions and reduced fuel costs. Another major difference from fossil fuel cars is the decreased sound. Because these vehicles are so quiet, manufacturers are experimenting with various synthesized sounds for EVs as safety measures. How might these sounds reshape our experiences of urban spaces?

This short performance piece asks onlookers to imagine what the streets might sounds like in the future, as EVs become more prevalent. The project is presented through the character of a sound surveyor, who is seeking a place to install the 30 year sound recording device.
Vehicle Acoustic Monitoring by Elliot Montgomery

Elliot's one of the second years on my course. His work generally deals with environmental issues but I particularly like the methods he employed in this project, as well as the things he discovered. Like the fact that a hi-vis jacket actually makes one invisible to normal people.
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Dark Matter Conspiracies

Sorry for all the posts about dark matter.

Did Dark Matter Causes the H1N1 Flu Virus?
The dark matter they are in search of could offer a lot of explanations. Could dark matter also alter DNA, RNA, viruses, and bacteria? Why not, scientists do it all the time in the name of research or finding a cure for this or that. Could dark matter be responsible for the latest flu pandemics and mutations? How did that dark matter get to Minnesota in the first place?

Scientists Say Dark matter Doesn't Exist
Two Canadian astronomers think there is a good reason dark matter, a mysterious substance thought to make up the bulk of matter in the universe, has never been directly detected: It doesn't exist.
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