No Obvious Objects Produce Gamma Rays

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the interpretation of statements made by David Thompson regarding gamma rays detected by the Fermi mission, particularly focusing on the implications of the phrase "no obvious objects produce gamma rays." Participants explore the nuances of this statement and its potential misinterpretation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that the thread title misrepresents the original statement by implying that there are no astrophysical sources for gamma rays, which they contend is not accurate.
  • Others clarify that the actual statement refers to the detection of gamma rays from regions in the sky without identifiable sources, indicating uncertainty about their origins.
  • There is a consensus among several participants that the title is misleading and requires revision for clarity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the thread title misrepresents the original statement, but there is no consensus on how best to rephrase it. The discussion remains focused on clarifying the interpretation rather than resolving the underlying scientific questions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the importance of precise language in scientific communication, particularly regarding the interpretation of observational data and the implications for understanding gamma-ray sources.

Dotini
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http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/18oct_600mysteries/

"Fermi sees gamma rays coming from directions in the sky where there are no obvious objects likely to produce gamma rays," says David Thompson, Fermi Deputy Project Scientist from Goddard Space Flight Center.

"Of course we're hoping for something really exotic like dark matter, but we have to look first at all the other options," says Thompson. "Fermi is an ongoing mission. We'll continue to search for answers to these puzzles and perhaps turn up even more surprises."


Respectfully submitted,
Steve
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Your thread title alters the meaning of what was said drastically. I would interpret your phrase, "no obvious objects produce gamma rays," to mean, "we can think of anything astrophysical that would be a source of gamma rays." That's not true.

What they were actually saying was, "sometimes we see gamma rays coming from places in the sky where there is no sign of any source that is emitting them." In other words, "we can't figure where these particular gamma rays are coming from."
 
cepheid said:
Your thread title alters the meaning of what was said drastically. I would interpret your phrase, "no obvious objects produce gamma rays," to mean, "we can think of anything astrophysical that would be a source of gamma rays." That's not true.

What they were actually saying was, "sometimes we see gamma rays coming from places in the sky where there is no sign of any source that is emitting them." In other words, "we can't figure where these particular gamma rays are coming from."

Agreed. I thought the same thing after I clicked into the thread. Very misleading.
 
Kronos5253 said:
Agreed. I thought the same thing after I clicked into the thread. Very misleading.

Agreed. The title needs needs some tweaking.

Respectfully, Steve
 

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