A Force from Empty Space: The Casimir Effect

From: Sam Wormley (swormley1_at_mchsi.com)
Date: 08/02/04 

Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2004 13:20:17 GMT

A Force from Empty Space: The Casimir Effect
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040801.html

  Explanation: This tiny ball provides evidence that the universe will
  expand forever. Measuring slightly over one tenth of a millimeter,
  the ball moves toward a smooth plate in response to energy
  fluctuations in the vacuum of empty space. The attraction is known as
  the Casimir Effect, named for its discoverer, who, 50 years ago, was
  trying to understand why fluids like mayonnaise move so slowly.
  Today, evidence is accumulating that most of the energy density in
  the universe is in an unknown form dubbed dark energy. The form and
  genesis of dark energy is almost completely unknown, but postulated
  as related to vacuum fluctuations similar to the Casimir Effect but
  generated somehow by space itself. This vast and mysterious dark
  energy appears to gravitationally repel all matter and hence will
  likely cause the universe to expand forever. Understanding vacuum
  fluctuations is on the forefront of research not only to better
  understand our universe but also for stopping micro-mechanical
  machine parts from sticking together.

See: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040801.html

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