Evidence for dark matter from PAMELA

Two lines to point out this paper, appeared in the latest number of Nature, coming from PAMELA Collaboration. This project is directed by Piergiorgio Picozza. He has been my professor of nuclear physics at Rome University La Sapienza (but all my mistakes about are my own responsability…). PAMELA is a satellite that is orbiting Earth since 1023 days to date (you can find a counter on PAMELA’s site) and is gathering data about cosmic radiation. They have found an enhanced production of positrons. In this last paper they reach the relevant conclusion that this excess may come from dark matter through an annihilation process. This appears a significant evidence for the existence of this exotic matter that we expect to be produced at LHC in the next months as the consequences of the accident happened last year will be definitively fixed. Let me say that I find PAMELA exceedingly sexy as what she is saying to us is really exciting.

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The whisper of the universe

Current experimental situation about dark matter is becoming increasingly exciting as results are coming out. I would like to emphasize the work of Piergiorgio Picozza that has been my professor teaching me the foundations of nuclear physics. He is currently the leader of PAMELA, an experiment that produced a lot of rumors and striking results as well. The New York Times has, as usual, published a beautiful article on the current situation about dark matter (see here).  It is worthwhile reading and makes quite clear that the situation is becoming stunning day after day but avoids anyway to cite the recent results of CDF Collaboration. Indeed, the link between dark matter and CDF finding is yet in its infancy. We are all awaiting for other confirmations as always happens to experiments. I am confident that these will not miss for too long. Whoever is interested about the relevant discussions about I just point you to the Dorigo’s blog being him one of the authors of the CDF’s paper. This provoked a lot of rumors in the blogosphere that sometime degenerated in hot discussions. We just stay tuned to learn more about.