Dark flow

Since 2008, a research team at NASA lead by astrophysicist Alexander Kashlinsky, has been tracking a unique phenomena at the outer reaches of our known universe. Initially, the team was studying the effects of microwave background radiation on the gases of galaxy clusters. The gases scatter the radiation as any medium diffuses energy, yet when the team noticed a peculiar amount of scattering, namely from the doppler effect, they knew the gases were moving at incredibly high velocities. Thus, the NASA researchers took note of a coherent stream of galaxy clusters traveling in a pathway at more than 2.2 million miles per hour. The hegemonic view of our universe and it's distribution of mass could not account for a gravitational pull of this magnitude.

Now, after an additional two years of study, the research team has expanded their observation, tracking more galaxy clusters, all revealing more of the same phenomenon now being referred to as 'dark flow.' Kashlinsky suggests that this observation is indicative of matter beyond our universe, extending some 47 billion light years. He emphasized that this 'dark flow' would be more difficult to explain if it traversed a 2.5 billion light year expanse and simply stopped.

Personally, as attractive as the ongoing research findings may be, I find Kashlinsky's reasoning suspect. Whether the 'dark flow' extends 47 billion light years or merely 2.5, either case would have a point of termination. Nonetheless, it is a unique finding and particularly interesting if it gives credence to any number of multiverse theories.