New evidence of massive black hole

[Oneironaut Zero]

Pretty damned interesting, if you ask me. LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Chinese scientists said on Wednesday they had gathered evidence that shows a giant object in the center of our galaxy is a super-massive black hole. Zhi-Qiang Shen and researchers at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory captured radio waves emitted just beyond the edge of the mysterious object, known as Sagittarius A, with a system of 10 radio telescopes spread across the United States. In a report in the science journal Nature they said it \"provides strong evidence that Sgr A is a super-massive black hole.\" The celestial objects that suck in everything around them including light are among the most mysterious objects in the universe. They are formed when matter from a dying star collapses under its own gravity. Black holes have been described as the ultimate victory over gravity because of their ability to suck in stars and other galactic features. Scientists have long suspected the presence of a black hole in the center of the Galaxy. Astronomers believe it is four million times more massive than our Sun. The research reported in Nature suggests the black hole is as wide as the radius of the Earth's orbit. \"These observations provide strong evidence that Sgr A is indeed a black hole, and afford a glimpse of the behavior of the matter that is about to flow into it,\" said Christopher Reynolds, of the University of Maryland in the United States, in a commentary in the journal. He described the findings as a further step towards capturing an image of the shadow around the edge of a black hole, which would be a classic test of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. The theory predicts that massive bodies -- planets, stars or black holes -- actually twist time and space around as they spin. Copyright 2005 Reuters. All rights reserved. [/b] "Four Million Times more massive than our Sun." Damn. Imagine the size of the star that started That sucker.

[LordCoreon]

I dont think it was one star but the massive amount of mass (haha get it ) in the center of our galaxy.

[bmx-life™]

so is like coming our way or just rolling by? an if it did come our way what happens?

[Leo Volont]

Originally posted by Oneironaut \"Four Million Times more massive than our Sun.\" * Damn. Imagine the size of the star that started That sucker. It doesn't take much of a snowball to start an avalanche. This huge black hole required no very big star in order to precipitate a black hole formation, as the primary factor involved was location, that is, being centrally located in a gravitational system. Things being so close together, there would be collisions which would slow things to a stop, and once stopped, we would have things collapsing together. Once beyond a certain level of Mass, we would have a Black Hole. Of course, that can only go on up to a certain point. When Massive Pressures again reach a critical threshold what we have then is a Big Bang. We can roughly calculate how much Mass it takes to deliver a Big Bang by examining our own most recent Big Bang and determining how much Mass was thrown outward. Some particularly stupid scientists insist that the Big Bang was some Pure Energy Explosion, however, such a view of obviously belied when we see everywhere in our Universe a clutter of very heavy elements which could have only been created by the greatest atomic pressures which can not be accounted for in a Universe still as young as ours is. Yet all of these heavy elements which clutter our universe could be easily explained as having been generated within the last Universe's Central Black Hole, and that they were blown outward in the Big Bang, which may have had a Pure Energy Explosion in its very center, but which was the dirtiest and smokiest explosion in its outer reaches.

[bradybaker]

^ That's funny, I had you pegged as a hardcore jesus-freak creationist all this time...

[icedawg]

Originally posted by bradybaker ^ That's funny, I had you pegged as a hardcore jesus-freak creationist all this time... You are in error if you fail to consider one can believe in God and still believe in a singularity that sparked the creation of the Universe. Many of those of faith no longer fight what can be proved as science fact, but rather incorporate it into their beliefs. (Just a side note that I believe Stephen Hawking--once a strong advocate of the Big Bang theory--no longer supports that theory but is considering something else; I was reading a book about it but unfortunately had to abandon it since school was starting.) Furthermore--as another example--look at 'Intelligent Design.' Admittedly I've never fully read it, but from what I understand it incorporates God's design into natural selection and evolution. It's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Why shouldn't there be profound logic behind everything in the Universe if an intelligent being created it? Many consider that further proof of God's existence--hence 'Intelligent Design.'

[Night Wolf]

Originally posted by icedawg Furthermore--as another example--look at 'Intelligent Design.' Admittedly I've never fully read it, but from what I understand it incorporates God's design into natural selection and evolution. It's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Why shouldn't there be profound logic behind everything in the Universe if an intelligent being created it? Many consider that further proof of God's existence--hence 'Intelligent Design.' Not wanting to get into a large and lets face it, never-ending conversation about the nature and existence of God and this "Intelligent Design", I nevertheless wanted to add my 2 cents worth on the topic. Sorry Oneironaut, this thread has been jacked to NAM. How can Intelligent Design explain the presence of vestigial organs present in some animals? (If you don't know what these are, an example is the presence of a pelvis structure in some whales, or redundant arm and leg bones found in some snakes). Why would God put such things in an animal? Merely to confuse us? There are many other examples of things that Intelligent Design fails to explain, and to say that "It was God's plan" is just a scapegoat answer that misses the point of true human nature, which is to ask questions and find SCIENTIFIC answers that can further advance our understanding of the world we live in. Do you think that God would want you to stop looking at the evidence in front of you? Doesn't he work in mysterious ways if you believe in him? Stopping the search for knowledge just because something is introduced that might disprove your personal paradigm is just narrow-sighted and arrogant. Sorry if this offends anyone (as it is bound to, LOL), but that's just my opinion. In my view you make your own faith, and never blindly follow something, especially when the evidence presented to you says otherwise. Of course, you might choose to interpret the evidence in a different way to someone else, but all you have to do is be true to yourself, nobody else can tell you what to believe. Well, that's it, all I have to say. Now you know why I stay out of the Religious Discussion section!

[Leo Volont]

Originally posted by bradybaker ^ That's funny, I had you pegged as a hardcore jesus-freak creationist all this time... I shop my Religions carefully. Judeo-Christian Beliefs emphasize Creation, but the Hindu and the Mayan Views see a Cyclic Expansion and Contraction of the Universe. This would fit in well with the idea that there are repeated Big Bangs. For instance, we now know to a certainty that the Universe has sufficient Mass in order to slow and eventually stop the Expansion from the Big Bang, which tells us that there will follow on a Contraction. Whatever caused the previous Big Bang will certainly trigger again into the Next Big Bang. And one need not be a Scientist to say so, but can cite both Mayan Sources and Passages from the Hindu Upanisads. The Sumerian-Judaic-Zoroastrian Stories of Creation have more to do with Moral Allegory concerning the Rise of Civilization then with the actual formation of the World.

[bradybaker]

Originally posted by Leo+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leo)</div> For instance, we now know to a certainty that the Universe has sufficient Mass in order to slow and eventually stop the Expansion from the Big Bang, which tells us that there will follow on a Contraction.[/b] That's still debatable. We'll need a better understanding of dark matter and energy before we can say for sure. Currently, the universe isn't just expanding, the expansion is accelerating. <!--QuoteBegin-Leo The Sumerian-Judaic-Zoroastrian Stories of Creation have more to do with Moral Allegory concerning the Rise of Civilization then with the actual formation of the World. Finally a Christian in here with a level head on their shoulders. EDIT: Except for the Christian part...

[icedawg]

Originally posted by Night Wolf How can Intelligent Design explain the presence of vestigial organs present in some animals? (If you don't know what these are, an example is the presence of a pelvis structure in some whales, or redundant arm and leg bones found in some snakes). evolution of course; perhaps i misspoke, because i assumed 'Intelligent Design' was a hybrid of evolution with intelligence behind it (i.e. life, and its subsequent tendency to evolve, as a designed mechanism). of course, i'd imagine Intelligent Design goes one step further and implies a definite destination (i.e. we were always the intent), whereas natural selection and mutations imply complete chance (we're an accident). perhaps that's the rift in which you speak. regardless, it's a step in the right direction if evolution is at least being considered by the zealots. anyway, i guess i've taken us offtopic, so back to the black holes...