Spacetime wave orbits black hole

[hummingwolf]

This morning's fun science news: "Astronomers from MIT and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have seen evidence of hot iron gas riding a ripple in spacetime around a black hole. This spacetime wave, if confirmed, would represent a new phenomenon that goes beyond Einstein's general relativity."

The report goes on to talk about amusement park rides and Beach Boys CDs. No, really.

Comments

[darth-spacey.livejournal.com]

This is a weird story.

First, it trumpets "Einstein = wrong", and then goes on to explain "Einstein = right". Trouble is, while I understand the principles I don't know enough relativity to actually make a call one way or the other.

Still, it's pretty cool stuff to think about. I wonder what the boiling point of iron is, anyway... Google claims it's 4982 F, which is quite warm.

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, cup of boiling iron.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

I'm confused... the article says this goes beyond Einstein's theories, but one of the people quoted in the article says Einstein predicted this behavior of space-time around a black hole.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure (it's been a while since I took a physics class), but I think the laws of physics start breaking down at the event horizon of a black hole. Fascinating stuff. The article was probably not written by someone who thoroughly understood what was going on... it would be interesting to get hold of an article published by a more scientifically oriented article (goes off to find that subscription offer to "Scientific American").

[helen99.livejournal.com]

er.. I meant "a more scientifically oriented person". Doh.

[nalidoll.livejournal.com]

ok.. you have sooooo done it. i *was* on my way to get sleep. then i read this. then i stared at my wmp visualizations and thought about it. then i came to comment, and people seemed all confused about the einstein thing. so i googled. and i found all srts of stuff about his general theory and special theory and the differences and how rotating forces made a difference.... and then i stared at the visualizations and thought about that some more (Pink Floyd came up. it worked).

and you do realize this is all on like *no* sleep.

anyways.. the einstein thing isn't a contradiction. just unclear editing and quoting. and i can't *wait* to see what dreams i have when i finally do sleep.

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Huh.

I think that's neato, but I don't see the post Einsteinian thing.

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

OK, all of the replies don't buy the Einstein diss, so I'm calling BS.