The Statistical Significance of the "Dark Flow"

We revisit the statistical significance of the "dark flow" presented in Kashlinsky et al. (2009). We do not find a statistically significant detection of a bulk flow. Instead we find that CMB correlations between the 8 WMAP channels used in this analysis decrease the inferred significance of the detection to 0.7\sigma.Comment: matches version in ApJL, Volume 707, Issue 1, pp. L42-L44 (2009

Are There Echoes From The Pre-Big Bang Universe? A Search for Low Variance Circles in the CMB Sky

The existence of concentric low variance circles in the CMB sky, generated by black-hole encounters in an aeon preceding our big bang, is a prediction of the Conformal Cyclic Cosmology. Detection of three families of such circles in WMAP data was recently reported by Gurzadyan & Penrose (2010). We reassess the statistical significance of those circles by comparing with Monte Carlo simulations of the CMB sky with realistic modeling of the anisotropic noise in WMAP data. We find that the circles are not anomalous and that all three groups are consistent at 3sigma level with a Gaussian CMB sky as predicted by inflationary cosmology model

Data Analysis for the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) Mission

We present an overview of the upcoming Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) mission, with an emphasis on those aspects of the mission that simplify the data analysis. The method used to make sky maps from the differential temperature data is reviewed and we present some of the noise properties expected from these maps. An overview of the method we plan to use to mine the angular power spectrum from the mega-pixel sky maps closes the paper.Comment: For the MAP Science Team. 11 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Mining the Sky, ESO Astrophysics Symposia Serie

The two-and three-point correlation functions of the polarized five-year WMAP sky maps

We present the two- and three-point real space correlation functions of the five-year WMAP sky maps, and compare the observed functions to simulated LCDM concordance model ensembles. In agreement with previously published results, we find that the temperature correlation functions are consistent with expectations. However, the pure polarization correlation functions are acceptable only for the 33GHz band map; the 41, 61, and 94 GHz band correlation functions all exhibit significant large-scale excess structures. Further, these excess structures very closely match the correlation functions of the two (synchrotron and dust) foreground templates used to correct the WMAP data for galactic contamination, with a cross-correlation statistically significant at the 2sigma-3sigma confidence level. The correlation is slightly stronger with respect to the thermal dust template than with the synchrotron template.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, published in ApJ. v2: New title, minor changes to appendix, and fixed some typos. v3: Matches version published in Ap

The Sign of Jonah

We have available today the immediate revelation and leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is this leadership rather than conscience that we as Friends are obligated to follow. Conscience may be a poor standard as it operates in accord with our own subjective beliefs and may be wrong. Our problem is to try the spirits to be sure the spirit we are following is truly the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is of God and cannot be wrong. The Bible is our ultimate test because the leadership of the Holy Spirit must be in accord with God\u27s Written Word. The Bible, as originally inspired and written, is absolute in its veracity and authority.https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/quakerbooks/1071/thumbnail.jp

The Christian and Petting

Excerpt: This article is called forth by the following considerations: There is the desire, first, to answer the stock remark of so many young people, \u27\u27What\u27s the harm? Everybody does it. - and second, to arouse the church of today to a realization of what is happening. Our homes and home influences are at an all-time low. Divorce, the white slave trade, and the illegitimate birth rate are, according to government statistics, at or near all-time highs. Competent authorities conservatively report that in one U. S. city alone hundreds of girls disappear each day of the year never to be heard from again. We see about us indications of a sadistic social trend like that which preceded the crack-up of the Roman Empire. One such indication is the tremendous drawing power of the prize fight and the modern slap-bang professional wrestling match. It may be hard for the psychologist to find the answer to these conditions, but for the Christian it is is found in Romans 1 :28, And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind ....https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/quakerbooks/1060/thumbnail.jp