Dark matter at the heart of the sun...

Gwern Branwen · 04 Aug 2010, 15:53 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: gwern0 at gmail.com (Gwern Branwen)
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 11:53:29 -0400
Subject: (urth) Dark matter at the heart of the sun...
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=4ixU_1gu4Y4kb4KSk22yFQmZBrnyYy5C3LPiO at mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTi=4ixU_1gu4Y4kb4KSk22yFQmZBrnyYy5C3LPiO at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTinY0mQcCvZ04khvq3MVDrOhzV+DVUhV+F1rwLMC at mail.gmail.com>

On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 11:38 AM, Dan'l Danehy-Oakes <danldo at gmail.com> wrote:
> "A scientist at Royal Holloway, University of London believes dark
> matter is lurking at the centre of the sun and cooling down its core
> temperature."
>
> Cue Twilight Zone theme.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100721132407.htm

Huh. I remember this from Stephen Baxter's Xeelee universe
(specifically _Ring_) - the dark matter 'photino birds' were
deliberately cooling the Sun to lengthen its lifespan and thus the
timespan in which they could reproduce using it (something about dark
matter needing high gravity to reach usable concentrations).

(Which is, of course, an entirely different mechanic and purpose than
black holes in the Sun's core.)

-- 
gwern

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