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NASA supercomputer simulates black hole collision

By Derek Sooman

On April 19, 2006, 4:05 PM

In an attempt to prove Albert Einstein's theories and unveil the secrets of space and time, NASA supercomputer Columbia has just performed its largest astrophysical calculation ever, in which it simulated a 3D model of two black holes merging. The simulations may provide the ultimate proof for Einstein's theory of general relativity.

When two of these bodies collide, they emit more energy than the light of all the stars in the universe combined. Space shivers like a bowl of Jell-O around them, when gravitational waves spread at light speed. It is the pattern of these waves that NASA has now managed to simulate.

"Gravitational waves are going to give us an entirely new window on the universe," said Peter Saulson, a physics professor at Syracuse University involved in the project. He compared the results with the discovery of radio waves, infrared light and x-rays.

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3 comments

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  1. April 19, 2006 4:44 PM
    DragonMaster said:
    The video stops just when the stars in the middle start disappearing!
    Reply
  2. April 19, 2006 8:26 PM
    nimo333 said:
    The video I downloaded works fine but it doesn't really explains much, I guess scientists didn't reach high level of understanding to time vs. space yet!
    Reply
  3. April 22, 2006 12:19 AM
    crossfire851 said:
    LMFAO it took 80hours to make some music player visulations, lol.JK This is the primary subject in class.
    Reply

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