Fastest Spinning Black Hole Ever Found

brian0918 writes, "NewScientist reports that researchers in Cambridge have detected a black hole spinning at nearly 1,000 times per second — the fastest ever recorded. From the article: 'McClintock's team examined a black hole in our galaxy called GRS 1915+105, which lies about 36,000 light years away. They found the innermost stable orbit around GRS 1915 is so close that the black hole must be spinning at nearly 1000 times per second. The finding supports the idea that only fast-spinning stars can collapse to create powerful explosions called long gamma-ray bursts.'" The Astrophysical Journal abstract is open but you have to be a subscriber to read the full article there.

Comments

Fastest Spinning Black-Hole

[Quaoar]

I thought this title was held by White House press secretary Tony Snow...

Re:Fastest Spinning Black-Hole

[brian0918]

Ahh, so he's considered a black hole because of his ability to absorb vast amounts of information, yet emit nothing in return, except through accidental leaks over billions of years? Brilliant insight!

So the question is...

[Kenja]

So the question is, whos grave is it and what did we do to get them to spin that fast?

obligatory

[owlnation]

I for one, welcome our new extremely dizzy overlords.

Re:Orbiting at no more than 30 miles from the cent

[Eternauta3k]

It's got to be on the verge of exploding. I wonder what effect the explosion will have here on Earth at 38,000 light years away?

Maybe it has already exploded. Just wait 38,000 years to find out.