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NASA Achieves Breakthrough Black Hole Simulation
DoctorBit writes "NASA scientists have achieved a breakthrough in simulating the merging of two same-size non-spinning black holes based on a new translation of Einstein's general relativity equations. The scientists accomplished the feat by using some brand-new tensor calculus translations on the Linux-running, 10,240 Itanium processor SGI Altix Columbia supercomputer. These are reportedly the largest astrophysical calculations ever performed on a NASA supercomputer. According to NASA's Chief Scientist, "Now when we observe a black hole merger with LIGO or LISA, we can test Einstein's theory and see whether or not he was right.""
From the article: "when two massive black holes merge, all of space jiggles like a bowl of Jell-O"
Wouldn't Kraft Foods have prior art on this?
....a machine that can tell me where my lost left socks have gone!
"Itanium chips actually get used"
The catastrophic results of merging Microsoft and Linux?
The hilarious results of merging Intel and AMD.
The unexpected results of merging a spinning Steve Jobs (Intel is Evil/Intel is the best, brightest, future of Apple) and the O'Reilly No-Spin Zone.
Those I'd buy tickets for.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
What kind of framerate do you get on that machine when playing Half-Life 2?
...would he have developed General Relativity sooner, or just played WarCraft?
--- Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers & Families -
http://funroll-loops.org/
Now when we observe a black hole merger with LIGO or LISA, we can test Einstein's theory and see whether or not he was right.
And if he's wrong then all the scientists can make "loser" signs at him on their foreheads...
Summation 2
anyone know if google has a science-nerd-jargon translator?
"Simplify, simplify, simplify!" Thoreau
They finally managed to use up all of those Itanium processors hanging about in storage. Well done!
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Not mentioned in the article of course, is that shortly after the simulation, the software collapsed in on itself as it underwent a Massive Total Existence Failure.
Watching massive things merging.. jiggling like jell-o... Good heavens, space is a pervert!!!
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
They're not black holes, they're just a result of Intelligent Darkness. Seriously, why do we teach kids today the theory of black holes without not also teaching them about Intelligent Darkness?
I don't know about you, but I already give enough of my money to publicans on a Friday night...
"I Know You Are But What Am I?"
That must be like half the Itaniums ever sold!
Can't even spell Coriolis yet we're supposed to believe you know about black holes and physics regarding them?
Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
And I whole heartily encourage all patent and IP lawyers to go to those black holes and ether Subpoena them or deliver a notice of possible infringement.
This should solve all lot of problem here on earth as well, if we can get them to all go.
Unless that is the Black hole decides to show up for its court date.
"You apparently use a supercomputer to generate a problem to a hole that sucks everything in."
I really think the goatse guy could claim prior art on this.
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
That's nothing--the WB and UPN are merging in September, producing a vortex of TV so sucky that not even brain cells will be able to escape.
The interesting question is whether the CW black hole will rotate or not. I for one hope that TV execs will be able to sit on it and spin.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
What, they sent another budget request to Congress ? :-)