The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered the presence of positrons also known as antimatter in lightning announced Michael Briggs of the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Thursday.
When NASA launched Fermi to gather information about gamma-ray emissions in the universe, nobody expected it to find out that antimatter happens before, during, and after lightning streaks through the sky. Fermi did not actually detect the particles, but the specific type of gamma-ray emissions that the elusive form of matter leaves behind.
"It’s a surprise to have found the signature of positrons during a lightning storm," Briggs said.
It has been known since the 1990s that gamma-rays occur when lightning flashes, but not the presence of antimatter. Scientists around the world have yet to react to this announcement. But it sheds some light on antimatter and opens many inroads into the mysteries surrounding antimatter. We stand to gain a great deal more information by pointing specialized telescopes earthward in the hopes of some unknown knowledge coming to light.
Fermi has recorded at least 17 occurrences of antimatter since it was launched over 14 months ago. Researchers link the presence of antimatter to an unusual reversal of the electric field which generates lightning.
Information Found on:
ScienceNews.org
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/49288/title/Signature_of_antimatter_detected_in_lightning
