There's a whole entire galaxy out there that got turned into one big graveyard.

[WilliamPitt]

Everything intact. Nothing alive.

Unreal.



Jet From Supermassive Black Hole Seen Blasting Neighboring Galaxy
By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 18, 2007; Page A03

A jet of highly charged radiation from a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy is blasting another galaxy nearby -- an act of galactic violence that astronomers said yesterday they have never seen before. Using images from the orbiting Chandra X-Ray Observatory and other sources, scientists said the extremely intense jet from the larger galaxy can be seen shooting across 20,000 light-years of space and plowing into the outer gas and dust of the smaller one.

The smaller galaxy is being transformed by the radiation and the jet is being bent before shooting millions of light-years farther in a new direction. "What we've identified is an act of violence by a black hole, with an unfortunate nearby galaxy in the line of fire," said Dan Evans, the study leader at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge. He said any planets orbiting the stars of the smaller galaxy would be dramatically affected, and any life forms would likely die as the jet's radiation transformed the planets' atmosphere.

(snip)

The galaxy Andromeda is the closest to the Milky Way, and the two are gradually coming closer to each other. In time, astronomers say, the two will merge, and the process may cause the dormant central black holes in either the Milky Way or Andromeda to become active and begin sending out similarly powerful jets.

If a jet were to hit Earth, Evans said, it would destroy the ozone layer and collapse the magnetosphere that blankets the planet and protects it from harmful solar particles. Without the ozone layer and magnetosphere, he said, much of life on Earth would end.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701266.html?nav=hcmodule



This composite image shows the jet from a black hole at the center of a galaxy striking the edge of another galaxy, the first time such an interaction has been found. X-rays from Chandra (colored purple), optical and ultraviolet (UV) data from Hubble (red and orange), and radio emission from the Very Large Array (VLA) and MERLIN (blue) show how the jet from the main galaxy on the lower left is striking its companion galaxy to the upper right. The jet impacts the companion galaxy at its edge and is then disrupted and deflected, much like how a stream of water from a hose will splay out after hitting a wall at an angle. (Chandra X-ray Center, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

[rug]

1. There was nothing alive there to begin with.

[WilliamPitt]

2. You've been there?

How was the trip?

What's it like to be more than a million years old, by the way?

:P

[rug]

5. I'll tell you after you tell me about the enchanting lifeforms that were destroyed.

[Pale Blue Dot]

17. There is nothing scientific that says that there WASN'T life there.

We really don't know, scientifically, what the probability of life in the universe, or in any one galaxy, is. That's why we need to send probes and humans out to determine if there is life in our own solar system beyond Earth.

[rug]

27. Don't you usually argue the burden of proof is on the proponent?

If you say there's life, prove it. You don't expect me to take it on belief, do you?

[GirlinContempt]

31. Since you cannot prove that there wasn't

and clearly, given the distances involved and the limits of our technology, we can't prove there was, saying either as a truth is ridiculous.

However, we can deduce it is likely that there was some form of life in that galaxy of some kind. We've found evidence of life within our own solar system, not to mention earth itself. It is highly likely that other galaxies have had or do contain some form of life, with the infinite possibilities, it's far FAR more likely that life exists than it does not.

Why should anyone take 'on belief' your assertion that there was no life? You can say the burden of proof is on the proponent all you want, it's a cop out. You yourself become a proponent by claiming in a definite way that life was not present. You don't just get to make baseless statements as fact and have them stand because you're on the negative side. That's just poor argument.

[rug]

37. Thee is no evidence of life. Therefore I go with the evidence.

I'd like to see the evidence for your assertion that it is "highly likely" thee was life in that galaxy. Sorry to be such an empiricist.

[GirlinContempt]

39. THere is no evidence of anything

You're just being a pain for the sake of being a pain. And no I can't prove it, I just go by the evidence.
There is no evidence one way or another, so you aren't going by the evidence. It's highly likely because life has existed on planets other than Earth, and there are an infinite number of possible forms of life on an infinite number of planets in a universe of incomprehensible size.

[datasuspect]

47. but you still cannot make an empirical claim

on the basis of likelihood. i think that was the point. rug isn't being a pain, he's actually correct.

[GirlinContempt]

55. No, I think he was being a pain

as it was a post in the lounge containing a flippant remark, but it was entertaining.
And he ceased to be correct when he made an equally unfounded statement. That's just lazy.

[rug]

64. Strikes me it was more an overblown metaphor than a flippant remark.

But I'm too lazy to give it much more thought.

:boring:

[PVnRT]

33. Someone piss in your Wheaties today?

Christ, chill out.

[rug]

38. As a matter of fact, my daughter spilled a bowl of Fruit Loops on me this morning.

[Bucky]

22. Apparently you've never read the Bible, sir. God put life on earth, not Beetlejuice or whatever.

Of course any life forms actually in that galaxy are beetle juice themselves by now.

[Kutjara]

26. Maybe not.

The former inhabitants of the galaxy could have seen the disaster coming (assuming the jet travels slower than the speed of light) and high-tailed it out of there. They could even be on their way here.

As for God only putting life on Earth, well, He would say that, wouldn't he? "Really, honestly, you guys are the only ones I made. You're the pinnacle of My creation. You folks rock! Trying to make another you would just be toying with perfection." <aside> "They all fall for that one. Suckers."

[Arugula Latte]

56. The Bible is a book made up by humans.

Just saying "The Bible says" is like saying "My Wheaties tell me..." It doesn't mean squat, in terms of what actually happened.

[Bucky]

62. That is SO ignorant! Just think for a second. Who wrote the Bible, huh?

God wrote the Bible, that's who. You think God doesn't know stuff? I mean a lot of stuff? And God is always gonna get it right when he writes something. Always. After all, he wrote the flippin' Bible. So don't give me that time-worn "Wheaties" argument. Cause you know what? God invented Wheaties, too!!

[Arugula Latte]

63. You're kidding, right?

Please tell me you're kidding.

"God wrote the Bible." That's a joke, right? You don't really believe that?

[Bucky]

65. I pity you. I imagine God is going to mow you down any day now for your blasphemy

Obviously you need proof. Here. There's no pictures of God writing the Bible, but someone got a good shot of God in the proofreading process. Still doubting? Then better wear kevlar, buddy, cause the Lord is gunning for ya.

[Arugula Latte]

68. Okay ...

Sometimes I can't tell if someone is serious when it comes to religion...

:rofl:

[Bucky]

69. hee hee

I sometimes offend people cause I don't use the sarcasm smily. Glad to see people in the lounge quickly see thru my bullshit :)

[no name no slogan]

3. Impossible. The universe is only 6,000 years old

nt

[Deja Q]

4. Cool. Will Andromeda collide with the Milky Way in the next 50 years?

[muriel_volestrangler]

41. About 3 billion years

http://haydenplanetarium.org/resources/ava/page/index.php?file=G0601andmilwy

This is great news - it means that, before the Sun is likely to burn out, another solar system may come our way, and we can just hitch a ride. No need to cross the empty vastness of space looking for a new planet to live on - just wait until the galaxy becomes a maelstrom of stars, and take advantage of the new situation.

I feel it's important to plan ahead for these situations. I'd like to know what the candidates' views on it are.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. END GALACTIC VIOLENCE NOW!! VOTE LAROUCHE!!!

[XemaSab]

13. .

:patriot:

[Dr. Strange]

30. This is why I'm a proud member of...

The Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society.

:patriot: <--Five swoosh salute!

[Bake]

51. Nice acronym!

Bake

[Dr. Strange]

53. Why, I have no idea what the smeg you're talking about!

[DS1]

7. Looks like the biggest quiffe ever caught on video

[matcom]

8. a Taco of Galactic proportions!

:rofl:

[qwertyMike]

19. What's a "Quiffe"

Back home in Ireland Quiff meant Female naughty bits

[DS1]

25. it's a gaseous discharge of such

[Bake]

52. I had one of those last night

My wife made me leave the bedroom ...

Bake

[fishnfla]

9. I cleared out a classroom full of students one time with strong assblasts

Real strong cheese+horseradish dip on top of pints of Belgian beer.

[DarkTirade]

10. Pour out a bottle of blarnax on the curb for my homies from da other hood, yo.

[Kutjara]

11. What would be even scarier...

...is if it was an intentional attack by one sentient species upon another. Imagine the minds capable of carrying it out. Imagine the technology. Imagine the terrifying patience. I hope we never meet them.

[stuntcat]

14. They'd laugh at us

to them we're pitiful and insignificant :P "Look, they've learned to put a lot of trash in space, and how to blow each other up!"

[Kutjara]

15. They'd probably not even notice us.

Just crush us like a pedestrian on the way to work steps on an ant, without even being aware they've done it. Or caring.

[stuntcat]

18. yup

People who think some aliens out there give a damn about us are the same kind who think they're the very "image of God" and junk like that :p

[sniffa]

12. you heathens never cease to appall me

:puke:

everyone knows that "science" is crap. i hope you enjoy your burning eternity in h-e-doublehockeysticks.

[Pale Blue Dot]

16. Beautiful...

Terrifying, and beautiful.

The universe is SO much more complex and beautiful since I became an atheist.

[qwertyMike]

20. Friggin scary - or not?

I'd love to dive into one of those back holes.

As Assimov said His last request (If there is a God) is to be taken on a tour of the Universe.

I agree

[MilesColtrane]

36. I don't think you'd really want to do that.

The gravitational forces would rip your body, then it's molecules apart.

But, if I were given the choice of diving into a black hole or sitting through a Fred Thompson stump speech...



GERONIMOOoooo!!

[qwertyMike]

80. But I'd be dead

No molecules left I hope - just fantasy

[TreasonousBastard]

21. a million years ago? Been hearing about this...

on NPR all day and they say it's a billion light years away. So it happend about a billion years ago. (Assuming that part of the universe wasn't created 6,000 years ago, too.)

What drives me slightly crazy when I see stuff like this is-- what does it look like NOW?

At least if it was a weapon in a galactic war, the designers blew themselves up with it. Otherwise, anyone with that kind of juice would have been here by now.

[Kutjara]

28. They could be using the larger galaxy as a source of power.

Maybe the civilization in the "target" galaxy has advanced to the point where they need (and can control) that kind of power, so they've rigged up the black hole in the bigger galaxy to smash up a few million stars per hour and "beam" the resulting energy home. They then use this energy to "seed" new stars in their own galaxy, perhaps to ensure a steady supply of fresh stars to replace older ones that burn out. Now, that's what I call long-term planning.

[DarkTirade]

67. And they must have had a few million years advanced warning on their impeding

power failure so they'd have time to set it up. :)

[porphyrian]

23. If that freaks you out, don't watch the series "Hyperspace" narrated by Sam Neill.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0273608/

It's a great series, actually, but the narrative is always along the lines of "Our universe is about to be utterly destroyed, in just a few million years!"

[Kucinich4America]

24. Maybe that's where Kolob was?

Kolob being the home planet where Elohim, our Heavenly Father made his design for planet earth and consulted with His Council of 12, including his 2 eldest sons, Jehova and Lucifer, as to how the plan would progress.

Or at least that's what Mitt Romney told me when we were discussing proper methods of strapping dogs to the roof of a car.

[Fire Walk With Me]

29. I cannot feel the slightest bit of compassion.

That's where the Smurfs lived.

[WilliamPitt]

32. Goddam smurfs.

[muriel_volestrangler]

43. They had it coming. They were scheduled opposite 'He Man and the Masters of the Universe'

and if that's not Weapons of Mass Destruction Related Program Activities, I don't know what is.

Next up: Why a space-based nuclear weapons platform is vital for taking out The Clangers.

[PVnRT]

34. They have weapons of mass destruction. INVADE NOW!!!!

[NewJeffCT]

46. I know - Cheney & Bush are probably drooling over that sight

The Death Star merely destroyed planets, this destroys entire galaxies. I can see Cheney know doing a Mr. Burns like, "excellent"

[BlueIris]

35. I just heard about that on NPR. Scary, yes?

The interviewer was like, "It couldn't happen to us...could it???"

[Kutjara]

40. LOL. That's like the dictionary definition of...

...parochialism.

"Two galaxies a million light years away have collided, creating an enormous vortex of matter that's feeding a black hole of cosmic proportions."
"Shit! I've just put a down payment on a car."

[johnnie]

44. Maybe it did happen to us already

A million years ago and no one has noticed yet. :shrug:

[Lyric]

42. Looks like the Vogons are building another bypass.

See, if that galaxy had only had a towel...

[underpants]

45. no sex threads

that first picture :wow:

[LanternWaste]

48. White House response

"What we've identified is an act of violence by a black hole, with an unfortunate nearby galaxy in the line of fire..." said White House spokesmodel Dana Perino. "This administration has demonstrated that it will not tolerate rogue black holes inflicting violence on an innocent galaxy . To further this end, the President will be declaring war on all existence. The President is asking for your help-- if you see a Black Hole acting in a suspicious manner, please call your local TIPS hotline."

When asked if the President's War on Everything in Existence would interfere with the faith of his slightly befuddled constituency, Perino responded that God has been acting slightly wonky lately and this is simply President Bush's neighborly way to take 'some of the load off' of God. When asked what would happen if God becomes collateral damage, Perino quoted Bush saying, "You can't scramble cookies without... there's a saying in Texas that goes, putting lipstick on my wife.... ummm... is this thing still on?"

[Orsino]

49. "Our black hole initiative is starting to show real progress."

"We've turned the corner in the quadrant."

[Parche]

50. And You Thought Uranus Was Bad....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :hi:

[Dr. Strange]

54. Let me guess: they played the Patriots?

You New England fans are impossible!

[RainDog]

57. I hate to show my ignorance, but here goes

I thought black holes had sooooo much gravity they rotated into themselves... sort of like an ocean churning the gulf stream. sort of.

anyway, I didn't think a black hole could overcome its own forces of resistance to have a jet of radiation or whatever. so, can someone explain to me how that happens?

thank you in advance.

[brentspeak]

77. I think, in this case, the supermassive black hole has some excess energy

along its fringes that it hasn't "gobbled up". It's that excess energy that gets spit out in the form of the jet radiation.

[bridgit]

58. ah dude, we're scrabnoid!!

[psychmommy]

59. did anybody see anything sexual about either of those pics?

or is it my sick and celibate mind?????

[Bucky]

66. It does kinda look like that galaxy is "lighting a blue flame" there

But that's not exactly sexual, is it?

[alfredo]

60. Should I sell my collection of Hummel figurines now or later?

[Bucky]

61. Good! I fucking hate Galaxy 3C321! Those bastards got what was coming to 'em!

I'm on that black hole's side. Stick it to 'em HARD, black hole! Beat the crap out of 'em! YEEEAAAHHH!!!

[Merrick]

70. You make me sick

Just because they walk around with their razoolies exposed, smell like a sulfuric broccoli farts and listen to music that sounds like horses being dropped into giant space blenders is no reason to hate them. Where's your intergalactic cultural tolerance?

[Bucky]

72. I

[Bucky]

73. Don't

[Bucky]

74. Like

[Bucky]

75. Broccoli!!!!

[Bucky]

76. !

(that one was left over from the previous post)

[TCJ70]

81. What if it has...

...cheese on it?

[hunter]

71. Ants and a magnifying glass.

Damn that Lucifer.

[Guaranteed]

78. "The event occurred about a million years ago."

In terms of relativity, I'm still not sure what a statement like this means.

Let's say we were seeing this event from Earth. We know the event occurs because we see the light showing the event occurring.

Now, nothing travels faster than the speed of light. So, in what sense did this event occur before we saw it? It seems to me that reality travels only as fast as light does- as far as we're concerned, when we saw the event occur, that's when it happened. By what other measure could we say "it happened such and such amount of time ago"?

Yeah, we would have seen something different if we had been closer to or farther from the event. But what we would have seen in that event wouldn't have been any "earlier" or "later" than the event we saw from Earth. That seems to me to be the point of relativity- space and time are intertwined. Because of that, as far as reality is concerned, there is no "delay" in time. It is merely "farther away"- and that is all.

[Taverner]

83. That's taking relativism to an extreme, donchya think?

[havocmom]

79. Darth cheney has gotta be sick with envy

Labs all across the nation will be under pressure to come up with a weapon like THAT to make Mr Death happy in his pants

[Taverner]

82. That is, unless, life evolved to adapt to high amounts of radiation

I will always give the benefit of the doubt to the tenacity of life.

[Orsino]

84. Typical defeatist liberal attitude. n/t

[qwertyMike]

85. "There's a whole entire galaxy out there that got turned into one big graveyard."

Who did that?

God?

Or Gore Vidal?