The Fate of the First Known Black Hole

sciencehabit writes "Cygnus X-1 bears its name because it was the first source of x-rays found in the constellation Cygnus. In 1971, astronomers discovered that the x-rays came from the direction of a bright blue star whirling around a mysterious dark object. They speculated that the x-rays were resulting from material being torn away from the bright star and falling onto the dark object, perhaps a black hole. This year, astronomers established that Cygnus X-1 does indeed harbor a black hole, a dead star whose great gravity lets nothing, not even light, escape. Now that result has inspired a forecast for the system's future: The black hole will swallow even more mass from an unfortunate star circling it, then likely dash away on its own when its companion explodes."

Comments

There's an important lesson for physicists in this

[idontgno]

Never, ever, EVER bet against Rush. Ever.

Steven Hawking, I'm looking at you.

Re:There's an important lesson for physicists in t

[Anonymous Coward]

I think Steven Hawking's Speak and Spell should be auto tuned to Geddy Lee's High Falshetto.....

Disaster Alert!

[meburke]

We at the Society for Extreme Alarmism take this opportunity to warn you of the impending end of the world! In only 12,000 years (Earth years, that is) the matter being sucked away from the blue star will cause it to explode. The same universal force that causes dropped toast to land butter-side-down will determine that this explosion will hurl the black hole on a direct collision course with Earth at about half the speed of light. Elementary mathematics proves that in only 24,000 years, then, a force more disruptive than Obamanomics will destroy the Earth!

Repent Now!

Sounds familliar

[Anne_Nonymous]

>> that result has inspired a forecast for the system's future: The black hole will swallow even more mass from an unfortunate star circling it

So basically, they're modeling based on our economy?