Deep Impact will kill us all

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2005-07-03 09:56pm

+http://www.matter-antimatter.com/

Basically, this guy says all comets are made of antimatter, and that the coming collision will blow Tempel 1 apart leading to Earth being bombarded with antimatter chunks.

Of course, I'm pretty sure we already pass through clouds of cometary debris regularly and seem to come through it alright, so maybe he's off a bit.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2005-07-03 10:24pm

Bah. Remember, "It'll burn up in our atmosphere and whatever's left will be no bigger than a chihuahua's head."

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2005-07-03 10:47pm

I'm sorry, I couldn't read the website through all the BULLSHIT

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2005-07-03 11:06pm

From the thread title, the quick impression I had was to wonder what we had to fear from a rather crappy 90s sci-fi/action flick.

felineki · Post by **felineki** » 2005-07-04 12:00am

Antimatter? Aren't comets mostly ice? Anyway, how would we determine that comets were made of antimatter if they really were? How do we differentiate between matter and antimatter? Also, does this site's claim that every element has an antimatter counterpart make any sense?

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2005-07-04 12:09am

Apparently, that probe we launched to drill some comet ice should have been turned into gamma rays. I suppose it's all a government conspiracy that's shooting comets of doom, From Klendathu!

Lord of the Abyss · Post by **Lord of the Abyss** » 2005-07-04 12:20am

Antimatter? Aren't comets mostly ice? Anyway, how would we determine that comets were made of antimatter if they really were? How do we differentiate between matter and antimatter? Also, does this site's claim that every element has an antimatter counterpart make any sense?

Actually, it would be quite easy. Space is full of solar wind particles and mircometeorites which would impact on an antimatter object, creating lots of gamma rays, not to mentioning rapidly eroding the comet. It would be difficult for scientists to miss, I would think.

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2005-07-04 12:22am

felineki wrote:Anyway, how would we determine that comets were made of antimatter if they really were?

I believe electron-positron annihilation produces gamma rays with an energy of 511,000 electronvolts. If we see gamma radiation at that energy coming from something, we would know that there is probably antimatter involved.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2005-07-04 02:42am

felineki wrote:Antimatter? Aren't comets mostly ice? Anyway, how would we determine that comets were made of antimatter if they really were? How do we differentiate between matter and antimatter?

Based off the gamma rays and infared signature that the impacts with dust and micrometeroites and such.

Also, does this site's claim that every element has an antimatter counterpart make any sense?

It's technically true - only difference between matter and antimatte is the spin of the quarks, making it possible. that said, we've never observed anything beyond subatomic particles having AM versions. If you had a tech level significanly greater then ours, I supposse you could build them, but we aren't close to that level.

Kizarvexis · Post by **Kizarvexis** » 2005-07-04 02:53am

Ender wrote:It's technically true - only difference between matter and antimatte is the spin of the quarks, making it possible. that said, we've never observed anything beyond subatomic particles having AM versions. If you had a tech level significanly greater then ours, I supposse you could build them, but we aren't close to that level.

A few atoms of anti-hydrogen have been made in the lab, but I don't think they lasted long, IIRC. The comets are made of anti-matter guy is pretty well debunked since the flyby craft is still there. I bet he still makes his silly claims tho and uses the comet impact pics as his "proof."

Kizarvexis

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2005-07-04 01:07pm

If comets were made completely of anti-matter, then shouldn't jupiter be...I dunno...Gone? (Shumaker-Levy 9, anyone?)

Lord of the Abyss · Post by **Lord of the Abyss** » 2005-07-04 01:14pm

If comets were made completely of anti-matter, then shouldn't jupiter be...I dunno...Gone? (Shumaker-Levy 9, anyone?)

Or... it's proof that Jupiter is antimatter !

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2005-07-04 01:35pm

Lord of the Abyss wrote:
If comets were made completely of anti-matter, then shouldn't jupiter be...I dunno...Gone? (Shumaker-Levy 9, anyone?)

Or... it's proof that Jupiter is antimatter !

But...but that would mean that...we're ALL antimatter!

...oh, wait. That would mean that stuff is actually just...the way it looks...hmm....

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2005-07-04 01:52pm

Ummm...we should be dead right now shouldn't we? Or are we actually dead and merely thinking that we're still alive?

Lord of the Abyss · Post by **Lord of the Abyss** » 2005-07-04 01:52pm

But...but that would mean that...we're ALL antimatter!

...oh, wait. That would mean that stuff is actually just...the way it looks...hmm....

Or maybe we are the only matter in the universe...

Aha ! That's why they faked the Moon landings ! They knew a real landing on the antimatter moon would create a huge explosion and kill us all !!
<insane laughter>

Glimmervoid · Post by **Glimmervoid** » 2005-07-04 02:50pm

I think this might be another case of one of us trying to distract him last some one else calls the men in the white coats.

Vanas · Post by **Vanas** » 2005-07-04 02:55pm

Kizarvexis wrote: A few atoms of anti-hydrogen have been made in the lab, but I don't think they lasted long, IIRC. s

As I recall, they didn't last long because the circular accellerator uses magnetic fields to accellerate charged particles around the corners. No charge=no effect, and they hit the walls.

You could get an anti-matter comet, but it'd be kinda obvious as others have noted.

On topic, after reading that page, I feel as if my brain is trying to escape via my right ear. That guy scared it.

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2005-07-04 06:05pm

kheegan wrote:Ummm...we should be dead right now shouldn't we? Or are we actually dead and merely thinking that we're still alive?

Well, see, he anticipated this and decided we won't all die for another 20 years or so.