Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Canadian Astronomers Discover a Magnetar

Posted by michael on from the stellar-attraction dept.

trotski writes "The Globe and Mail is running an article about the discovery of a magnetar star by Canadian astronomers. The star, named SGR 1806-20, is located 40,000 light-years from earth. This neutron star is one of only four magnetars ever discovered. Magnetars are characterized by their huge magnetic fields, billions of times stronger than any magnets on Earth. Apparently, if this star was located as far away as the moon, it could demag floppy disks and suck change right out of your pocket."

11 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Plus, by Bobulusman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Having a star as close as the moon would probably be pretty warm, too.

    --
    Cogito ergo sum in Slashdot.
    1. Re:Plus, by p4ul13 · · Score: 4, Funny
      Damn you for beating me to the punch on that comment.

      The article doesn't explain how they go about detecting such a star (bring a compass into space and see where it points??), but I found the last line amusing:

      "This neutron star could be as small as Winnipeg, but with a temperature several million times warmer," Prof. Safi-Harb said.

      A star that is much warmer than Winnipeg; Imagine that!

      --
      Paul Lenhart writes words!
  2. Suck Change? by Trusty+Penfold · · Score: 2, Funny


    Wow, imagine what it could do if coins were actually ferrous!

  3. YARIGISWPT by MarkusQ · · Score: 3, Funny

    if this star was located as far away as the moon, it could demag floppy disks

    Yet another reason I'm glad I stayed with paper tape.

    -- MarkusQ

    1. Re:YARIGISWPT by Syncdata · · Score: 3, Funny

      You all laughed when I stuck with the punch card system over your unsecure floppies! Who's laughing now!

      --
      "Inattention makes clowns of us all" -Bean
  4. Democratic Star by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe the star is Democratic, not magnetic. A Demostar. Then it could suck the change out of your pocket.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    1. Re:Democratic Star by ENOENT · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's right. A Republican star, of course, would not suck change out of your pocket because Republicans don't believe in change. :-)

      --
      That's "Mr. Soulless Automaton" to you, Bub.
  5. Magnetar... by Dannon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please tell me I'm not the only one here who thinks this sounds like a villain out of an 80's cartoon. Maybe Space Ghost, or Transformers.

    --
    Good judgment comes from experience.
    Experience comes from bad judgment.
  6. Soundgarden by infonography · · Score: 2, Funny
    I wonder how hard it would be to move it into earth orbit and get Soundgarden to get back togeather for one song - "Blackhole Sun" with a real blackhole in the background. Just like the video.

    Sure it would be the end of history but it would be the biggest thing in Rock and Roll history. I think it's worth it.

    --
    Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
  7. Disaster Area! by ThinkingGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    A concert at the end of the Universe? Wouldn't Disaster Area be a more appropriate act?

  8. I found it! by Cervantes · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hmmm... several million times warmer than Winnipeg... ok, so a median of 20C, check... sucks change out of your pocket... check.... erases data from great distances... check.

    Ladies and gentleman, I have located the 5th Magnetar... the good ole US of A!

    --
    Laugh while you still have the right..

    --
    If I knew the wedgies I gave you back in 6th grade would have resulted in this . . . I might have taken a moments pause.