When it comes to questions like "is there a soul?" "is there life after physical death?" "what is the meaning of life?" "are there parallel universes?" "is time travel possible?" every explanation is mere speculation. Theories are theories until they are proven with observable evidence, that can be recreated and tested. So far, there are no answers that are empirical with regard to such questions.Yes it is true that phrases such as dark matter and dark energy were created to encompass what we are still investigating. That is just part of the process. If ordinary people make a religion out of it by beating up with those who disagree with the asserted theories, that is not the fault of the theory, it is the fault of the people who lack critical minds and independent personalities.

Maybe the most ridiculous argument I've ever participated in was a (Bud Light influenced) debate about the four stages of matter.

I'm glad to see that I'll finally be able to top that.

"The only thing constant is change".

If this is another state of matter it will have to go through all the riggers to prove it by multiple sources and then published. Even when proven, if it is, many may refuse to believe it.
Yes, science and the sub-category of medicine are some times hard to accept by the 'old school' concepts.

I'm just not buying it... if they have done something it won't nearly be in the realm of completion that they are stating. The article makes it seem like they have worked out the theories and have a final product, when its more likely that they "believe" that they have a sound theory and a kick ass CGI of what they think the end result will look like.

I'm not holding my breath for the lead into gold thing just like I'm not holding my breath (or Holdin Mah-Groin) for Cold Fusion.

I'll admit, I haven't read the whole article or even most of the comments but just the sound of this is absolutely Fascinating.

good to see we are working both ends of the Periodic table, military app??

@FrankenPC: I believe a diamond anvil is an actual anvil with diamond jaws that can compress the a sample material to 3 million atmospheres...

On the aluminum thing... it could have been aluminum ceramic. Which is transparent to light... (Star Trek "the voyage home" whale aquarium?)... but in reality the military is *slowly* replacing screens and windows on vehicles with it. (Hummers, trucks, etc...)
It's got 2 or 3 times the strength of bullet proof plate glass and very low weight in comparison. But the best part is that it does not crack and go white like glass when hit by bullets... it just scratches like metal. In fact is so scratch proof, it will not weather down (like sandblasting).

It's expensive, about $6 sq.in. compared to $1 for glass. but it will outlive the vehicle, so it makes says...

So funny, scientist are far from knowing everything. They disprove each other and add new theories all the time. Everything is just what we knoe as of now. Time changes everything.

Ryan

Idealist,

Sounds like a reasonable request to me -- though I would amend the request to read "flying car that gets at least 20 miles to the gallon...

i just want a flying car.. is that so much to ask?

I posted the same story several days ago.

this makes me very happy..i want to see what we will create from this..maybe an alternative fuel? lightsabers?

Every object has a mass that can be measured, but there are some objects that have near undetectable mass and yet have an influence on large mass objects, due to the aggregated influence of the near undetectable object's huge ratio of existence.

thats so cool

what type of matter is dark matter?? Plasma or the new stuff or a completely different?

What about plasma?

Looking forward to more news on this in the future. Wonder what state it is? What will they call it? Can you smell it like a gas or feel it like a solid or liquid? Cool!