Survey gets a grip on dark energy

Summary:

Astronomers measure the precise distance to over a quarter of a million galaxies to gain new insights into the influence of dark energy on the Universe.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17559286

(These next few posts will probably be summaries from BBC as I have very little time right now.)

C, the speed limit

The Icarus collaboration has proven that neutrinos do not violate the speed of light.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17364682

CERN Press release: http://press.web.cern.ch/press/PressReleases/Releases2011/PR19.11E.html

Symmetry Magazine: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/breaking/2012/03/16/new-neutrino-measurement-finds-particles-obeying-speed-limit/

Antimatter under a microscope?

Scientists at CERN are extremely close to being able to look at an atom of anti hydrogen under a microscope.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17284822

New data from the Tev

After sifting through more data from the Tevatron, there are hints of a particle between 115 and 135 GeV with a certainty of 2.2 sigma. (Not enough to call it a discovery.) The LHC has found a suggestive "bump" as well at the same mass even though the experiments conducted to get the data were extremely different.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17269647
Quantum Diaries: http://www.quantumdiaries.org/2012/03/07/the-higgs-boson-won%E2%80%99t-be-playing-hide-and-seek-much-longer/

Symmetry Magazine: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/breaking/2012/03/07/tevatron-experiments-see-possible-signs-of-the-higgs-boson-in-favored-region/

One in a Billion

LHCb, an experiment within the LHC, has further proven that the standard model is correct. (Much to my disappointment.) They have watched B mesons to determine how many decay in which manner. Their data lined up with what the standard model dictated so it seems as if the standard model is gaining validity.

Quantum Diaries: http://www.quantumdiaries.org/2012/03/05/lhcb-finds-a-few-very-special-events-out-of-10-billions/

New antimatter development

Data from the Tevatron has further solidified unexpected data from the LHC regarding how particles decay. It is not quite at four sigmas of certainty but it is enough to make scientists think about the implications.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17200308Fermilab

Updates on Faster than Light Neutrinos

It turns out the particles may not have exceeded the universal speed limit. After further tests it was determined that a glitch in the GPS synchronising may have accounted for the faster time.

Science Mag: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/02/breaking-news-error-undoes-faster.html?ref=hp#.T0U_N0pYVRc.twitter

However later scientists discovered another possible glitch that made the particle appear to travel slower than reality. It is unsure which factor influences the recorded time more. As with most of science, more tests will be needed.

Science Mag: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/02/official-word-on-superluminal-ne.html?ref=hp