Newfound Blob is Biggest Thing in the Universe

[tocqueville]

Ker Than
Staff Writer
SPACE.com
Thu Jul 27, 2:45 PM ET

An enormous amoeba-like structure 200 million light-years wide and made up of galaxies and large bubbles of gas is the largest known object in the universe, scientists say.

The galaxies and gas bubbles, called Lyman alpha blobs, are aligned along three curvy filaments that formed about 2 billion years after the universe exploded into existence after the theoretical Big Bang. The filaments were recently seen using the Subaru and Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea.

The galaxies within the newly found structure are packed together four times closer than the universe's average.

Some of the gas bubbles are up to 400,000 light years across, nearly twice the diameter of our neighboring Andromeda Galaxy. Scientists think they formed when massive stars born early in the history of the universe exploded as supernovas and blew out their surrounding gases. Another theory is that the bubbles are giant gas cocoons that will one day give birth to new galaxies.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060727/sc_space/newfoundblobisbiggestthingintheuniverse

[Lautremont]

1. And if this giant blob is hungry?

I don't like our odds!

Perhaps this is the "October Surprise."

[benburch]

7. I for one...

...welcome our new gas blob masters!

[Lautremont]

8. They can't be worse than the current ones.

[Anita Garcia]

10. that made me laugh, thanks!

[panader0]

2. It staggers the imagination! I hope we all get to travel to these places

when we die.

[qazplm]

3. if the blob is from that long ago

wouldnt it have dissipated somewhat by now? Gotten even larger?

[grytpype]

6. Article says...

"The structure we discovered and others like are probably the precursors of the largest structures we see today which contain multiple clusters of galaxies," Yamauchi said.

[rman]

14. Looking further into the universe, we look back in time

(due to the finite speed of light)
"formed about 2 billion years after the universe exploded into existence after the theoretical Big Bang" means it's somewhere between 10 to 20 billion lightyears distance.

[LiberalEsto]

4. The mother of Limpballs?

Rush, call home. Your mommy wants you.

[mom cat]

5. Hope we can see a better picture someday, but here it is folks:

A comparison of a Lyman alpha blob and the Andromeda Galaxy. In the upper right corner is an image of the Andromeda Galaxy, scaled as if were at the same distance as the blob. The red circle indicates a bubble like structure discovered for the first time with the Subaru telescope observations. Credit: University of Tokyo Kiso Observatory

&cap=A+comparison+of+a+Lyman+alpha+blob+and+the+Andromeda+Galaxy.+In+the+upper+right+corner+is+an+image+of+the+Andromeda+Galaxy%2C+scaled+as+if+were+at+the+same+distance+as+the+blob.+The+red+circle+indicates+a+bubble+like+structure+discovered+for+the+first+time+with+the+Subaru+telescope+observations.+Credit%3A+University+of+Tokyo+Kiso+Observatory

[hwmnbn]

13. Hey, I think I see myself!.....

Yeah, that's ME on the left right by the yellow!! :headbang:

[mom cat]

17. Are you sure? That does not look like your nose! LOL

[stevedeshazer]

9. Cool. I feel really small now.

http://theblobsite.filmbuffonline.com.nyud.net:8090/blobmovietour/images/theablob.jpg

[Book Lover]

11. Once again, Star Trek proves prescient *grin*

[Odin2005]

19. That was a stupid Star Trek episode.

[Book Lover]

20. You are so wrong, young one

[Odin2005]

21. Come on, giant, radiation-eating space amoeba? that was CHEESY!

[Book Lover]

22. I cannot disagree more!

This episode showcased several cool and dramatic sci-fi concepts

A) Vulcan telepathy/telempathy.

B) Direct consumption of life force as a means by which a being sates hunger.

C) The Captain, forced by duty, sends a friend to his death.

[TheModernTerrorist]

12. can anyone say "Cthulhu"?

I sure can :hide:

[Orrex]

16. That's the lames and geekiest thing I've ever read

Besides, it's obviously Azathoth.

[TheModernTerrorist]

18. hahaha

you just made my day.

if I can't be labled geeky on any given day, then I'm obviously not doing my job.

[eShirl]

15. so they finally discovered God (n/t)