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Frictionless Superfluid Found In Neutron Star Core

Posted by Soulskill on from the always-in-the-last-place-you-look dept.

intellitech writes "NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered the first direct evidence for a superfluid, a bizarre, friction-free state of matter, at the core of a neutron star (abstract). Superfluids created in laboratories on Earth exhibit remarkable properties, such as the ability to climb upward and escape airtight containers. The finding has important implications for understanding nuclear interactions in matter at the highest known densities."

6 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Already seen it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Last time I got close enough to a neutron star to confirm this theory, the tidal forces nearly killed me, despite being in a General Products #2 hull.

    B. Shaeffer

  2. Re:Permo by Ancantus · · Score: 2, Funny

    For all intensive purposes the universe is a perpetual motion machine. Yah enthalpy and all that will eventually slow down everything, but we wont be around to see it.

    --
    Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. -- Isaac Asimov
  3. Re:Nutron Star? by kwerle · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, I happend to find unicorns at the center of that same star. My current theory is that the fluid they discovered is actually unicorn urine.

  4. ah lubricant... by binaryseraph · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm trying really hard to not make a KY joke out of this.

    1. Re:ah lubricant... by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

      When it comes to science, Kentucky is already a joke.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  5. Re:airtight? big deal by N0Man74 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I believe, what their saying is that, a superfluid can escape a container that air can not. Not that the superfluid can escape an inescapable container.

    So, we should hold off on naming it 'Houdinium'?