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Huge Supernova Baffles Scientists

Posted by timothy on from the like-laser-pointers-to-cats dept.

Iddo Genuth writes "Scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and San Diego State University have observed an explosion of a star 50 times larger than the sun. In what they call a 'first observation of its kind' the scientists were able to notice that most of the star's mass collapsed in on itself, resulting in a creation of a large black hole. While exploding stars, or 'supernovae,' aren't unprecedented, this star, which lay about 200 million light years away from earth and was million times brighter than the Sun, has exploded as a supernova at a much earlier date than the one predicted by astronomers."

18 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. Damn Mythbusters. by Fumus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now they "accidentally" blew up a star. Great!

  2. God's plan... by Faizdog · · Score: 5, Funny

    It wasn't supposed to go nova now, but it was part of God's plan so that our ancestors would know the way here after peeking in the Temple. They could've had more time to look around, but their enemies were right behind them.

    --
    -"Those who fought today will die tommorow."-
    1. Re:God's plan... by somersault · · Score: 5, Funny

      Someone needs their Geek Card confiscated.

      So say we all!

      --
      which is totally what she said
  3. You know... by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 4, Funny

    It would really suck if a massive gamma ray burst from that supernova screwed up the rest of this pou3u7IU89&&bu*8389*(&Y(*(¥¥90øioiuuy

    --
    http://twitter.com/OLDTELEGRAM
  4. Re:It happens? by flaming+error · · Score: 2, Funny

    "That's us, dude!"

  5. Re:It happens? by mabhatter654 · · Score: 4, Funny

    another MythBusters experiment gone wrong!

  6. LHC? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apparently, they've fixed their LHC.

  7. Uh huh... by djupedal · · Score: 3, Funny

    > '...Baffles Scientists'

    And we all know just how difficult that can be to accomplish these days.

  8. Ruh-roh! by Unmanifest · · Score: 5, Funny
    "...exploded as a supernova at a much earlier date than the one predicted by astronomers."

    (eying the sun nervously)...

    1. Re:Ruh-roh! by lupine_stalker · · Score: 3, Funny

      Clearly our sun could collapse at any time. We should not wait until a potentially hostile star right on our doorsteps decides to attack!

      I call for a premeptive strike to be made on the sun!

      --
      Ninjas use italics.
  9. Everybody stay calm... by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...it's just some omnipontent aliens, building an interstellar highway. Nothing to see here... move along, and don't forget your towel.

  10. Re:It happens? by guyminuslife · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or, knowing those guys, horribly right.

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  11. Re:It happens? by rattaroaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    All your post proves is that that you really don't know all that much about ./ers

  12. Re:It happens? by Ragzouken · · Score: 2, Funny

    For sufficiently finite values of infinity.

  13. Whodunit? by SirLoadALot · · Score: 3, Funny

    The next Slashdot poll should ask which alien race is responsible for this. I'm voting for the CowboyNealiens.

  14. The Messiah has returned! by erroneus · · Score: 3, Funny

    You science people have completely missed the mark. The Messiah has come to end the world and take the faithful home!

  15. Re:It happens? by TheSpoom · · Score: 4, Funny

    Today on MythBusters: What happens when you collide an unmoveable object with an unstoppable force? The results might surprise you!

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
  16. Re:It happens? by NewbieProgrammerMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn those DotSlashers!

    --
    [b.belong('us') for b in bases if b.owner() == 'you']