July 26, 2011: Quasar Contains Largest Water Reservoir In The Universe

classicman · 07-25-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

H2O, anyone?

Astronomers have discovered a reservoir containing 140 trillion times the amount of water in all the Earth's oceans, making it the largest mass of water ever detected in the universe.

"The environment around this quasar is unique in that it's producing this huge mass of water," Matt Bradford, a Caltech visiting associate and NASA scientist said in a press release. "It's another demonstration that water is pervasive throughout the universe, even at the very earliest times."

Quasars are extremely luminous and compact galactic nuclei fueled by a central and supermassive black hole.

This quasar holds a black hole that's 20 billion times more massive than the sun, and after gobbling down dust and gas it belches out as much energy as a thousand trillion suns. The water vapor is spread around the black hole in a gaseous region spanning hundreds of light years.

from here

SPUCK · 07-26-2011, 05:52 AM

All that water down the drain.

ToastyOhs · 07-26-2011, 08:04 AM

Even with all that water and energy...

"THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

CaliforniaMama · 07-26-2011, 08:24 AM

I wonder if we could hook up a hose?

Scriveyn · 07-26-2011, 02:28 PM

So much water, so little whisky

BigV · 07-27-2011, 04:50 PM

???? srsly? maybe you just need better whiskey

07-26-2011, 08:24 AM	#4
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: God's country. Posts: 1,099	I wonder if we could hook up a hose? __________________ People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. Mother Teresa

07-27-2011, 04:50 PM	#6
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 18,209	???? srsly? maybe you just need better whiskey __________________ Remember: Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. -- Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and writer (121-180)

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07-26-2011, 05:52 AM	#2
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,557	All that water down the drain.

07-26-2011, 08:04 AM	#3
ToastyOhs Discontinued Breakfast Food Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Coastal Maine, USA Posts: 58	Even with all that water and energy... "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

07-26-2011, 02:28 PM	#5
Scriveyn putter-away of would-be emperors Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Between my ears Posts: 636	So much water, so little whisky

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