Different theories on dark matter

Dark matter is a mysterious form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects on visible matter. While there is a strong consensus among scientists about the existence of dark matter, its nature remains one of the most significant unsolved mysteries in physics. Several theories have been proposed to explain dark matter, ranging from well-established ideas to more speculative and obscure ones. Here are some of the key theories:

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs):WIMPs are a class of hypothetical particles that interact through weak nuclear force and gravity. They are considered one of the leading candidates for dark matter. Many experiments, such as those conducted in underground laboratories, are actively searching for the elusive WIMPs, but so far, none have been detected.

Axions: Axions are very light and weakly interacting particles that were proposed to solve the strong CP problem in particle physics. They are also considered a potential candidate for dark matter. Axion searches involve experiments that aim to detect the conversion of axions into detectable particles.

MACHOs (Massive Compact Halo Objects): MACHOs are dark matter candidates composed of ordinary matter in the form of compact astronomical objects, such as black holes, neutron stars, or dim brown dwarfs. However, observational constraints, such as microlensing surveys, have largely ruled out MACHOs as the primary constituent of dark matter.

WISPs (Weakly Interacting Slim Particles): WISPs are hypothetical particles that interact very weakly with ordinary matter. They include axions and other light particles. These particles could be responsible for dark matter and are being investigated through various experimental approaches.

Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM): SIDM posits that dark matter particles can interact with each other through additional forces beyond gravity. This could help explain certain astrophysical observations, such as the distribution of dark matter in galactic clusters. However, direct evidence for self-interaction remains elusive.

Hidden Valley Models: Hidden Valley models propose the existence of a hidden sector with its own particles and forces, separate from the known particles in the Standard Model. Dark matter particles could be part of this hidden sector and interact with ordinary matter only through gravity.

Fuzzy Dark Matter: Fuzzy dark matter suggests that dark matter may consist of ultra-light particles with wavelengths comparable to galactic scales. This could potentially explain the observed structure of galaxies on large scales.

Extra Dimensions: Some theories propose that extra spatial dimensions beyond the familiar three dimensions could harbor additional particles that act as dark matter. These extra-dimensional models are often associated with extensions of string theory.

It's important to note that while these theories offer intriguing possibilities, none has been conclusively proven, and the search for the true nature of dark matter continues through both theoretical and experimental efforts. 

Advancements in cosmology in the twentieth century

Hubble's Law (1929): Edwin Hubble's observations provided evidence for the expansion of the universe. He observed that galaxies are moving away from us, and the farther a galaxy is, the faster it is moving away. This led to the formulation of Hubble's Law, indicating the expansion of the universe.

Big Bang Theory (1927-1948): Building upon the expanding universe concept, scientists like Georges Lemaître and George Gamow developed the Big Bang Theory. This theory proposes that the universe began from an extremely hot and dense state and has been expanding ever since.

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) Radiation (1964): Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson accidentally discovered the Cosmic Microwave Background, which is the faint radiation left over from the Big Bang. This discovery provided strong support for the Big Bang Theory.

Inflationary Cosmology (1980s): Proposed by Alan Guth and others, the inflationary model suggests a brief period of exponential expansion in the early universe. This model helps address certain issues with the standard Big Bang model, providing a more comprehensive explanation for the large-scale structure of the universe.

Dark Matter (1930s-1970s): While the concept of dark matter was introduced in the 1930s, it gained significant attention in the latter half of the twentieth century. Observations of galaxy rotation curves and cosmic microwave background fluctuations provided evidence for the existence of non-luminous, or dark, matter.

Dark Energy (1998): The discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe, based on observations of distant supernovae, led to the proposal of dark energy. Dark energy is thought to be responsible for the accelerated expansion, but its nature remains one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology. 

Roles reversed

Can you share a memorable experience from your career as a science and technology journalist? What story or event stands out to you and why?

One big story was a SpaceX Dragon shuttle ferrying an experiment to make space beer to the ISS. At least, that was what made the story blow up on the internet and reach the frontpage of Reddit. It was a really long and detailed story, but the other stuff was unnecessary in its viral value. Another story that exploded was a photograph of a page from the Digit Buying Guide, it was a chapter on gaming chairs, and I had used a meme for the image showing pewdiepie asking 'But can it do this', that got a lot of upvotes. 

There were two memorable days in the newsroom. The first was when Trump won the elections, the graph of votes crossed, with Hillary leading at first then Trump winning. One guy had shown up in office with a Trump mask. There was a lot of online chatter till the time Trump started leading, after which there was a stunned silence for a while as it sank in. Then the internet exploded. 

The other memorable day was the landing of Chandrayaan 3. It was the most important story of the year. The whole office was asked to generate ideas for the headline. More than 40 entries were discussed and shortlisted by the editors and desk heads. At the end of it, ten headlines were selected. Then there was a poll. After all that effort, and really creative headlines, the editors made the call to go for something simple and straightforward. It was this story: 

Touchdown! Chandrayaan 3 successfully soft lands on lunar surface

There were some that I really liked, so I wrote those stories anyway. 

India rises as Chandrayaan 3 Rover takes a moonwalk, rolls out of Lander

and my personal favourite was

Maa tujhe salaam: In 76th year of Independence, ISRO gifts India the Moon

In the rapidly evolving field of science and technology, how do you stay updated on the latest developments and ensure your reporting is accurate and insightful?

I tried to setup RSS feeds but not all sites have those. I monitor hundreds of university sites around the world, as well as space agencies, aerospace industry companies, defence contractors, and consumer electronics companies, as well as major technology companies. The PR for companies also send press releases to my inbox. They also call me to events and offer opportunities for interactions. A simple and straightforward answer would be: press releases. 

As far as it comes to making the pieces insightful, we are trying to make click-baity headliens, and then make the story click-worthy. So what we do, is we add small paragraphs next to a story that further explains the main story. If an asteroid is making a close approach, then we add subheads such as, 'But why is this important?', 'What would happen if such an asteroid actually struck the Earth?' or 'How to prevent an asteroid impact'. Subheads are good for the SEO as well, and a great place to use keywords. 

What are some of the challenges you face in communicating complex scientific and technological concepts to a broader audience? How do you overcome these challenges?

One problem is that scientific publications use an entirely different vocabulary, and simplifying it can end up not communicating what really happened at all. For example, ISRO's Aditya L1 spacecraft conducted a trans-Lagrangian manoeuvre, but no one actually reported that, they just said 'important', or 'crucial' manoeuvre. Another challenge is that the audience does not really care for scientific and technical content at all, or would rather watch a YouTube video than read a news article. I try to overcome these by trying to write more compelling, educational stories that are good to share on social media, but would like to know better approaches that work here. 

As a journalist covering science and technology, you likely encounter a variety of exciting innovations. Is there a particular technology or scientific breakthrough that you find particularly fascinating or promising for the future?

I find both biotechnology and artificial intelligence very exciting and having a lot of potential. I am an accelerationist, in that I believe that technologies should be released in the wild instead of trying to regulate it and police it too much. Unfortunately, this is happening too much to AI, with a lot of great tools locked away in labs. There are also cutting edge tools that are challenging for consumers to use. There are private AI models that perform much better than the ones in the wild on benchmarks. 

One of the big biotechnologies breakthroughs that I am anticipating is the introduction of a wide range of life extension drugs, which are going to get increasingly effective in any case. I also think that neuroscience will advance rapidly and sufficiently for people to make digital copies of their brains, or upload your mind. Then I think, that these brains will be allowed to mix with AI. If we can have portable brain activity interpretation machines, or even a more direct brain-machine interface, I even think we can start making the hivemind. 

At the very least, we will be able to make chatbots that mimic us, essentially providing some kind of digital immortality to everyone. 

Then one last thing, NFTs are considered dead now, but I still like the idea. Digital collectibles will become something big in the future, as well as phygital ones, and these need not be things, they can even be experiences. Im closely looking at developments in this space, which was killed by financial institutions trying to introduce too many tools too rapidly, making crypto an investment vehicle with volatile pricing, that makes any token increasingly inadequate for practical use. 

With the increasing role of technology in our lives, there are often ethical considerations and societal impacts associated with scientific advancements. How do you approach reporting on these aspects, and what role do you see journalism playing in shaping public discourse on these issues?

We are guided primarily by the audiences here, and what they vote, share or engage with is eventually what is worth writing. What audience engages with changes the discourse on issues. If more people will consume, discuss and share an 'AI is going to kill you and your dog' story, then that is what we are going to write.

We always focus on the societal impact first, like what is this going to do for me. One thing we are careful of is that we do not use superlative words such as 'breakthrough, or 'major advancement' or 'game changer' or 'paradigm shift', especially when it comes to reports on life-saving or medical advancements. 

We are careful, and we humbly listen to any feedback in these areas. 

What sparked your interest in science and technology journalism? Was there a specific moment or experience that led you to pursue this field?

Digit Magazine CDs that my friend's older brother had lying around in his room. I used the CDs, read the magazine, and decided to become a journalist and work for Digit magazine. My mom forced me into science in 12th standard, but I was allowed to graduate in mass media. After graduation, I applied for a job in Digit and got one. I made the DVDs still they stopped making DVDs. 

Outside of your professional life, what are some of your hobbies or interests that might surprise people who know you primarily as a science and technology journalist?

I am pretty open minded about magic. I got into all the subjects taught in Harry Potter, and all of it is extremely fun. Ancient Runes are such simple magic, its the power of words. You just write 'strong' on a shield, or 'peace' in a house, and that object becomes that word you have written on it. The 'magic' is so simple and beautiful. 

Then I like Tarot, the decks have beautiful art, and you have to consult a little guide book that helps you interpret the results during reading. You can place the cards in all sorts of random patterns, and it is just fun. I do a few single card and three card readings online, for those who ask for it. 

As someone deeply involved in covering cutting-edge developments, what futuristic technology or scientific advancement do you personally hope to see in your lifetime?

The digital brain uploading hivemind of immortals melded with AI thingy. 

Reflecting on your career journey, are there any mentors or influencers who have played a significant role in shaping your approach to journalism and your passion for science and technology?

All my bosses, and many of my colleagues. They were all incredibly passionate people about both technology and journalism. At Digit I was pushed to see past the marketing of companies and focus on the relevance to users. At Firstpost, I was pushed to write more detailed, long pieces. Then at Digit again, it was for more authoritative pieces. At News9, it was towards writing more experiential reviews, and content that is relatable to people who do not care much about science and technology. 

In the ever-evolving landscape of journalism, how do you balance the demands of staying informed and being on top of your beat with maintaining a healthy work-life balance? Do you have any rituals or practices that help you recharge outside of work?

I finish my work on time and leave office. I don't pick up the phone, or respond to communications after office hours. 

Just got back to Delhi

So had gone to Mumbai to finish up my leaves before year end. On the day I was supposed to leave, I twisted my ankle real bad. Could not move for a few days. I stayed in bed and lived off Swiggy delivery boys. Then somehow I healed enough to travel five days later. 

I took a bus. It was crazy comfy. The ac was blasting cold air straight at my ankle, which is just what I needed. The bus switched at Gujarat. Two guys next to me were caught with booze and had to pay off the cop. They couldn’t finish their spiked drink in time. Prohibition just leads to black market and corruption, allowing cops to exploit… I love this word, alcoholics. 

At the crossover, I got a nice meal from the transport people. It was a thali with the beautiful soft chapatis of Gujarat. People were friendly. There was apparently a pair of stolen AirPods that accompanied me throughout the journey. I tried, but failed to find the thief. Instead, I found a few people who wanted to use my charger, this is because the bus only had usb a chargers, no usb c slots, and no plug points. 

In Mumbai, I recovered. I met friends almost daily and couldn’t really get around to doing everything I had planned. I was finally sleeping in my own bed, and I was sleeping a lot actually. I planned to play Baldur’s Gate 3, but couldn’t because the PC I had gotten for review wasn’t even a gaming PC, and it struggled to load just the art book. 

One of my friends gave me this kickass balm - Menthodex. It made the pain disappear instantly. It was like an indie mint on my leg. Kickass. The guy has given his direct number for feedback on the label itself. 

I got some toys for kids of my friends, and even got to play with some of them a bit. They are all growing up amazingly fast. Found out some friends are moving to Canada. Discussed future plans with some others, while getting super drunk. Played board games with still others. Heard some future scripts and just sat and talked with some. All in all, had good fun. 

After New Years, I was at a friends place and got really hot and fainted. I have to go to the doc tomorrow as I’m feeling a bit weak and under the weather today as well. 

On the return journey, came back my train. That was fun too. Everyone was using their phone speakers despite the overlapping sounds. There was one autistic guy who was using earphones. The guy next to me was handling his junk constantly, and watching reels loudly despite having tws earphones. I had half a mind to record and shame that wanker but let it be. 

I resolved to travel by bus and train henceforth as much as possible as air travel just removes the journey aspect of it. I heard at least seven different ways to pronounce NES-coffee. One guy was calling water ‘pania’. 

On the first night I got really hungry, and right next to me was a bag fool of goodies I had gotten for friends in Delhi. I simply had to dip into it and chomped down on an entire packet of til gud. 

The food was okay but the packaging was not. The train came on platform 2 but red rail and online services said it would be on platform 6. I reached the station 50 mins before departure but only got on the train 15 mins before it left, because a concerned railway employee directed me to the right platform after seeing me wait for half an hour on the wrong one. I don’t get why at this day and age, getting real-time information on which platforms the trains are on is so challenging. 

That’s all I want to remember for now, will have a smoke and crash. Need to find some lost hard drives tomorrow. 

Weed culture in India

The major culture here is about chillums. every ‘circle’ has its own rules, either you always pass clockwise or anti-clockwise.

Starting of the chillum is only given to someone who can light up the entire thing, at which time everyone says ‘bum bum’, ‘jai Shree Mahakaal’ or ‘Hari Om’. 

If you pass the chillum with the last puff, then you have to clean it after the last puff. Usually the cleaning responsibility is shared between the last two people who smoked. 

You never, ever pass an empty chillum. 

When smoking green, it is taken for granted that the maal is going to be dipped, soaked or spiked, so it is mandatory to clean. This is done by giving ‘Chita’, that is pouring 4-5 drops of water on the weed after cleaning and then squeezing the mix (this is before adding tobacco). You are supposed to let the water run off your palms, so everyone can see how red/black it is, and appreciate your cleaning efforts, and know that you are making love (mohobbat) and not poison (zeher). 

After giving Chita, you can mix the tobacco. The water also ensures that the weed burns slowly and produces delicious, heavy, oily smoke. Then the chillum is never lit with a lighter. You always have to light it with a matchstick, usually two. Some stagger the matches in such a way that the second one catches fire mid ‘sar’, or the starting of the chillum. The preferred way of lighting the chillum though, is using coconut hair! 

So that’s cleaning, starting, passing and ending covered. Oh yeah, it is always good etiquette to carry some safi, that is cotton bandage, but strips of cotton cloth are better. Anyone who carries safi is always respected. Tear generous amounts of safi, enough to comfortably clean chillum, which is done by passing safi through chillum and then rubbing the chillum. If you are sick, get your own safi, swap out the group safi for yours when the chillum comes to you, then swap it out again before passing. 

For Shiv Bhakts, the preferred location to smoke up is at graveyards, it has the advantage of keeping most people away, and is a way to honour and entertain the dead with your memories, songs and jokes. 

It is customary to get sufficient maal for everyone for a session at the start itself. Everyone takes something (matches, tobacco, safi, water etc to a sesh). If people have not gotten enough, then before starting only everyone gives contri or contribution, then people go and score enough for the session. 

Then there is the inversion code. This is a simple code that prevents anyone from understanding what you are talking about if they overhear you, or hear you on phone. So lumchi is chillum, chisma is maachis, llama is maal, and so on. 

Phew I think I got a lot covered, am ready to answer any questions, but this is the weed culture in India, not hiding in bathroom and smoking a j into the exhaust lol! 

Dream Diary persiplane edition

 I was back in college and walking around the ground floor where there was a science exhibition going on. There were different exhibits (and this was an actual real exhibition that happened at SIES about 15 years ago), and I was just observing everything one by one. I went to the top floor, some strange rooms and labs, and then came to an exhibit about weather and climate. There a teacher asked me what causes the seasons on the Earth and I responded initially with ‘attitude’ and then explained the orbital relationship between the Earth and the Sun; and that it was the tilt of the planet and not the proximity to the Sun that caused the seasons. Then a topper from my school suddenly showed up and said ‘persiplane’, while I was struggling to remember a single word that explained exactly what I wanted to say. 

There is no such word, but after waking up I remember thinking at least my dream explanation was right. 

Dream Diary magic sorting cat edition

Close enough but not at all exact 

I had a kind of dreamception, where I was dreaming within a dream. I dreamed of a game, woke up in a party with my dnd fwens and some other people I didn’t know. There was a guy playing a guitar with long hair and a dusky girl in a white shirt with lots of tats. We built and played the game.

 It was an occult themed game, had seven spinners instead of dice, you had to add things like age and current date to the rolls, and it was a coop game where everyone became vampires, werewolves or died, and you had to pass a cat, if it liked you, you became vampire, if it didn’t, you became werewolf. 

The main game board was a brown panel with what appeared to be watch faces, but these were seven spinners. The board was made of nails and black marker, and we actually placed the spinners ourselves, to make spinners for odd numbers that do not have dodecahedral shapes. 

The cat kept biting me and I woke up.