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NASA Sees Glow of Universe's First Objects

Posted by kdawson on from the first-post dept.

Damek writes with news from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which has captured light from what may have been the first glowing objects in the universe, light generated 14 billion years ago. From the article: "'We are pushing our telescopes to the limit and are tantalizingly close to getting a clear picture of the very first collections of objects,' said Dr. Alexander Kashlinsky... 'Whatever these objects are, they are intrinsically incredibly bright and very different from anything in existence today.' Astronomers believe the objects are either the first stars — humongous stars more than 1,000 times the mass of our sun — or voracious black holes that are consuming gas and spilling out tons of energy. If the objects are stars, then the observed clusters might be the first mini-galaxies..."

13 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. Almost there... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Once the have a telescope that can peer past that glow, they find the number "42" at one of the cosmos and a hitchhiker thumb at the other end.

    1. Re:Almost there... by The-Ixian · · Score: 4, Funny

      For some reason I thought there would be a trendy restaurant out there

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    2. Re:Almost there... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Follow the direction of the hitchhiker thumb. If a bunch of Klingons start attacking you, you took the wrong exit.

    3. Re:Almost there... by iggy_mon · · Score: 4, Funny
      i won't lie to you...

      i understood each and every word you said... if i read them separately
      when i read them together... WHOOOSH! what the #$^*(^2)?!

      btw, i love that there are people who know more about certain topics than me, it makes life interesting.

      --
      --iggy_mon - www.ananonymouskiller.com - Die Trying -
    4. Re:Almost there... by ozbird · · Score: 2, Funny

      Once they resolve the glow, they'll find it's a message written in fire in letters thirty feet high that reads:
      "We apologise for the inconvenience."

    5. Re:Almost there... by Dabido · · Score: 2, Funny

      That would depend on whether the rest of the Universe sucked as much as Earth does.

      --
      Sure enough, the cow costume was hanging up next to the superhero outfit and sailors uniform. (S,Spud)
  2. Worlds largest telescope comes on line by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Focusing on glowing objects...

    "Ahhhh, I can see what it says!"

    "What is it?"

    "Its a sign of some kind!"

    "A sign?, what does it say?"

    "Look out behind you!"

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  3. 1000 Times the mass of the Sun? by orkysoft · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since when is a star of 1000 times the mass of the Sun a humungous star? The Sun is a pretty small star compared to others...

    --

    I suffer from attention surplus disorder.
  4. Tagging as "oldnews" by RobertB-DC · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... 'cause 14 billion years is about as old as news can get. Literally.

    Thank you, I'll be here all week, enjoy the sushi!

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  5. It's the Electric Universe Dimmer Switch by ScentCone · · Score: 3, Funny

    Obviously. If you go back far enough in time, of course you'll see the glow from when the dimmer switch is just being turned up. I can't believe we waste perfectly good Science Money on wacky alternative theories, when the EUDS explains this perfectly.

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  6. Day glow Universe by edwardpickman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Cool!

  7. Warning by Cctoide · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do not stare into universe with remaining eye.

    --
    "Let's face it, it's a good story. Accuracy would kill it."
  8. Re:Bullshit by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Everyone knows the universe is only 6,000 years old.

    Ah shit, the salesman said the trilobite fossil was 7,000. I want my money back.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.