thegnat
10-19-2007, 09:15 PM
WEIRD SCIENCE
October 18, 2007
Strange but True: Black Holes Sing
Although sound cannot be heard in space, it can sometimes be seen
By Robynne Boyd
In the dark heart of the Perseus galaxy cluster, 300 million light-years from Earth, a supermassive black hole has been singing the same note for 2.5 billion years. Its tone registers 57 octaves below middle C and, according to scientists at NASA's Chandra X-Ray Center, is a resounding B-flat. Yet, how is this possible in the vacuum of space?
Sound requires a medium, such as water or air, to travel. Here on Earth a sound wave moves from its origin by causing the surrounding air molecules to vibrate. The vibrations pass from one molecule to another; when they hit an ear, they are understood as noise. But because neither air nor water nor much of anything else exists in the majority of vast reaches of space, it is difficult for sound to travel there.
the source and more (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
A singing black hole....
Even our universe hums ever since the Big Bang....
There's a concert out there in space! Or else the universe is having a really good time along with that black hole ;)
I'll post more thoughts....later....but go ahead and post your own :)
October 18, 2007
Strange but True: Black Holes Sing
Although sound cannot be heard in space, it can sometimes be seen
By Robynne Boyd
In the dark heart of the Perseus galaxy cluster, 300 million light-years from Earth, a supermassive black hole has been singing the same note for 2.5 billion years. Its tone registers 57 octaves below middle C and, according to scientists at NASA's Chandra X-Ray Center, is a resounding B-flat. Yet, how is this possible in the vacuum of space?
Sound requires a medium, such as water or air, to travel. Here on Earth a sound wave moves from its origin by causing the surrounding air molecules to vibrate. The vibrations pass from one molecule to another; when they hit an ear, they are understood as noise. But because neither air nor water nor much of anything else exists in the majority of vast reaches of space, it is difficult for sound to travel there.
the source and more (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
A singing black hole....
Even our universe hums ever since the Big Bang....
There's a concert out there in space! Or else the universe is having a really good time along with that black hole ;)
I'll post more thoughts....later....but go ahead and post your own :)