Scientists witness the apparent birth of a black hole

[Octafish]

Source: The Washington Post

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 15, 2010; 6:16 PM

For the first time, scientists believe they have witnessed the birth of a black hole.

The evidence began arriving 30 years ago from a star 50 million light-years away that had imploded, setting into motion events that created a region where gravity is so great that nothing can escape, even light.

The initial 1979 observation of the exploding star was made by an amateur astronomer from Western Maryland, but the profession's top scientists have studied it intently with increasingly sophisticated orbiting X-ray telescopes.

In announcing the discovery Monday at NASA headquarters, the researchers said that although the information they have collected is consistent with the birth of a baby black hole, they cannot rule out other possibilities. Nonetheless, they spoke enthusiastically about what they are learning and will learn about the evolution of black holes.

"We've never known before the exact birthday of a black hole, and now we can watch as it grows into a child and teenager," said Kimberly Weaver, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "Learning about black holes has been like solving a puzzle, and this will help us get closer to a full understanding."

CONTINUED w much info...

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/15/AR2010111504192.html

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Maybe We the People should get to understanding black holes and multiple dimensions before the bad guys.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Truly! Did the Wright Brothers imagine anyone would take their invention

and use it to wipe out hundreds of thousands of people? Disintegrate entire towns?

Thanks for your link. Rec.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. Yes, on Nov 2 2010

it was evident.

[derby378]

3. This is at least as important as the CERN headline on the DU front page

On the lighter side, maybe they can name the black hole Sarah Palin.

[Rozlee]

4. I take it you're talking about the empty cavity between her ears.

Or the way she and teabaggers seem to suck up all good policies and decent governance into a black hole where nothing except bullshit can escape.

[derby378]

6. Sorta like Captain Jack Sparrow

"Take what you can - give nothing back!"

[lonestarnot]

8. On the upsuck, that is my most favorite of men.

:loveya: Jack Sparrow and Johnny ain't bad either. purrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[laconicsax]

12. More important.

The CERN headline is an optimistic projection, this is actually significant since it will confirms aspects of the current model if subsequent observations confirm that SN1979c collapsed into a black hole rather than a neutron star.

Science: It works.

[redirish28]

5. Now to me this is news worthy and a nice (uplifting/inspiring) piece of news.

[Lint Head]

7. I hope Limpballs and The Quitter getsucked in first.

[Javaman]

9. meh, we witness one every time a tea bagger opens their mouth. nt

[AsahinaKimi]

10. I just love these stories about Scientific break throughs

makes the "world" a little more meaningful.

[Mimosa]

11. Wow. What a photo.

I wish I understood 'black holes'. Can they be transition portals between dimentions? Or what?