I'm taking a class called Rhetoric of Science. Basically, it's about how the media represents scientific issues, the public's understanding of science, etc.
I've decided to write my term paper on the mainstream media's descriptions of dark matter. If you don't know what dark matter is: good! I'm looking to examine if the media oversimplifies the concept, explains it correctly/concisely, etc. Here's what you can do if you have a few extra minutes:
1. Quickly skim this NYT article.
2. Then this Scientific American article.
3. Come back here and explain dark matter in your own words, in like, two sentences max.
4. Get quoted by me in my paper.
5. Be awesome.
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Dark matter appears to be particles just hanging around loose in the galaxy, leftover pieces from the Big Bang perhaps. It either exists or doesn't exist, but no one knows, although it might be a reason some heavenly objects slow down the further away from a galaxy they move because they're in the way from the center of rotation.
ReplyDelete*blink*
I am so confused.
That's an excellent post and excellent comment. Ben, you might want to announce to the class, or I can, that you need help on this. You can then post it on the class site to make it easier for people to check out.
ReplyDeleteWow...here goes...
ReplyDeleteDark matter is an unseen and theorized mass that may account for up to 90% of the mass in the universe. And like Lauren said, nobody knows if dark matter exists, but it may account for the slowing of planets as they move away from each other.
Hope that helps.