A New Twist In The Antimatter Mystery

CDF was one of two multi-purpose experiments at the US Tevatron accelerator near Chicago

New Twist In Antimatter Mystery -- BBC

Physicists have taken a step forward in their efforts to understand why the Universe is dominated by matter, and not its shadowy opposite antimatter.

A US experiment has confirmed previous findings that hinted at phenomena outside our understanding of physics.

The results show that certain matter particles decay differently from their antimatter counterparts.

Such differences could potentially help explain why there is so much more matter in the cosmos than antimatter.

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Image: The antiprotons lie sandwiched between the inner and outer Van Allen belts (in red) around the Earth.

Antimatter Belt Around Earth Discovered By Pamela Craft -- BBC

A thin band of antimatter particles called antiprotons enveloping the Earth has been spotted for the first time.

The find, described in Astrophysical Journal Letters, confirms theoretical work that predicted the Earth's magnetic field could trap antimatter.

The team says a small number of antiprotons lie between the Van Allen belts of trapped "normal" matter.

The researchers say there may be enough to implement a scheme using antimatter to fuel future spacecraft.

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Signature Of Antimatter Detected In Lightning

Antimatter lightningDuring two recent lightning storms, the Fermi telescope found evidence that positrons, not just electrons, are in storms on Earth.Axel Rouvin/Flickr

From Science News:

Fermi telescope finds evidence that positrons, not just electrons, are in storms on Earth.

Washington — Designed to scan the heavens thousands to billions of light-years beyond the solar system for gamma rays, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has also picked up a shocking vibe from Earth. During its first 14 months of operation, the flying observatory has detected 17 gamma-ray flashes associated with terrestrial storms — and some of those flashes have contained a surprising signature of antimatter.

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