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Black Hole Birth Detected this Morning

An anonymous reader writes "SPACE.com is reporting on the first optical afterglow ever detected from a short-duration (milliseconds) Gamma-Ray Burst. The GRB signals the birth of a black hole resulting from a merger between two neutron stars. Theory had predicted the whole thing, which was all spotted this morning by NASA's Swift satellite and ground-based observatories, thanks to an automated email system that notifies astronomers worldwide."

5 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Upon Further Review... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Gamma ray burst was determined to emitted from a very large cigarette lighter igniting a very, very large cigarette. SETI recorded the first successfully detected extraterrestrial broadcast of a message, which they believe was "Was it good for you, too?" Bachelor and bachelorette scientists around the world are extremely puzzeled and have few clues as to what it all means.

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Upon Further Review... by Nos. · · Score: 5, Funny

      Geez, they said I couldn't smoke in planes, then theatres, now restaurants. Now I can't smoke in space? This is getting out of hand!

  2. Weak! by The+Woodworker · · Score: 5, Funny

    It happened 2.2 billion years ago. Slashdot really needs to try and stay current.

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    Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he'll wipe out the species.
  3. Those impetuous scientists! by kclittle · · Score: 5, Funny

    The burst has been named GRB050509b

    I mean, really! How droll, how clever...

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    Generally, bash is superior to python in those environments where python is not installed.
  4. Re:What about Dr. Reinhardt? by Eccles · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dating yourself, eh?

    This is slashdot. It's not like anyone else will date us.

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    Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.