Where is the matter that balances us?

2002/11/14 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Fisika
• Astrofisika

It is curious that from the point of view of molecular biology, the life we know is oriented, that is, biomolecules are not symmetrical, so to speak they are somehow twisted.

The amino acids that form proteins are geometrically inclined to the left, while glucose, fructose and all sugars are found to the right. The structure of DNA, the famous spiral staircase, is tilted to the right.

These structures are fixed, with few inverted cases. One of these exceptions is found in the “skin” of bacteria. They use inclined amino acids to the right, so our body does not know and can not break this structure. It is an effective scam, which we know that only fungi have remedy against this geometric game (containing antibiotics).

Why are the molecules of life like this? In fact, they are not only molecules of life, but elementary particles. In short, the molecules are formed by atoms that do not act symmetrically either. And atoms are formed by electrons and protons, in which the same occurs: elementary particles can only interact to the left. And, consequently, atoms and molecules act asymmetrically.

Universe to the left

Physicists have much studied the origin of this feature and believe it has to do with the origin of the universe. It is believed that the universe began with a big bang of Big Bang. But that means that at first all matter was measured in a small point. It is not a very intuitive idea: matter in a single point of all galaxies, stars and planets. However, according to this theory, there was a big explosion and the matter was dispersed in all directions.

It seems a process of total symmetry, since the matter was dispersed equally in all directions. But when electrons, protons, and neutrons were concentrated in atoms and molecules, not all combinations emerged, but certain symmetry.

How to explain it? Perhaps something that we have lost has happened half way. However, for physicists, electrons, protons and these particles have a natural tendency to the left. But if this is so, it seems that the matter containing the trend electron to the right must be to maintain the symmetry of the cosmos. This matter is called mirror matter. Where is that matter?

Somewhere

Last year, a NASA probe took the earth on an asteroid, the asteroid Eros. It was the first time. In this mission were found surprising data. For example, the asteroid had very few small craters on the surface and the bottom of the large craters was very flat. These and other characteristics of asteroid can be explained by mirror matter. At least two Australian astrophysicists have proposed it.

In addition, the influence of mirror matter gives the explanation to other mysteries. For example, Pioneer 10 and 11 ships launched by NASA in 1972 are deteriorating the journey by a strange force. Although both go in opposite directions, they are changing the path under the same force.

Is mirror matter related to all this? Is dark matter mirror matter? Physicists will have to make more measurements. But it is not easy, since mirror matter can only be detected by gravity.