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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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17

Farthest-Ever Star Blast From Ancient Cosmos

Gamma ray burst took 13 billion years to reach Earth

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(Newser) – Astronomers have detected a cosmic object more distant than any ever seen: a gamma ray burst about 13 billion light-years from Earth. The massive, luminous burst occurred about 600 million years after the Big Bang—that is, when the universe was 4% of its current age—and only lasted for about 12 seconds. Scientists say the ancient burst allows an unprecedented view into the earliest days of the universe.

A gamma ray blast takes place when a star dies, collapsing in on itself to form a huge black hole and releasing massive amounts of energy. Two independent groups of astronomers observed the blast, which was first detected by a NASA satellite, reports National Geographic. "This is the last blank bit of the map of the universe: the time between the Big Bang and the formation of these early galaxies," said one of the astronomers.

An artist's rendering of a gamma-ray burst. A burst 13 billion light-years away is the furthest object from Earth yet observed.
An artist's rendering of a gamma-ray burst. A burst 13 billion light-years away is the furthest object from Earth yet observed.   (Wikimedia)
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17 comments
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Stasis
Oct 29, 09 8:21 AM CDT
Junk science. Scientists are liberal a-holes who want to kill children with shanks made from dead puppy bones... Reply
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-18
IN RESPONSE:
Face-Of-RNC
Oct 29, 09 8:27 AM CDT
And you are worthless today.
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+10
IN RESPONSE:
cochiserocks
Oct 29, 09 9:03 AM CDT
Easy tiger. Explaining how the trick is done doesn't mean they're claiming to understand who did it or why.
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+1
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myvoice
Oct 29, 09 9:21 AM CDT
but you cant reason with dumb asses cochise! People who flat out deny science are exactly that... dumb asses!
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Oct 29, 09 9:24 AM CDT
It is hard to detect your sarcasm, Stasis.
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+6
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