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LIGO detects most massive black hole merger to date

(www.caltech.edu)
360 points Eduard | 4 comments | 14 Jul 25 20:06 UTC | HN request time: 0.687s | source
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WrongOnInternet ◴[14 Jul 25 21:27 UTC] No.44565549[source]▶
> the 225-solar-mass black hole was created by the coalescence of black holes each approximately 100 and 140 times the mass of the Sun.

Does this mean that 15 solar masses were converted into energy? Because that's a LOT of energy.

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tashmahalic ◴[15 Jul 25 04:04 UTC] No.44567727[source]▶
Into what form of energy is that mass converted?
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1. BurningFrog ◴[15 Jul 25 05:56 UTC] No.44568237[source]▶
Maybe all of it is gravitational waves?

I don't think much else would escape the black hole environment.

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2. misja111 ◴[15 Jul 25 06:53 UTC] No.44568592[source]▶
Kinetic energy is another option
3. jajko ◴[15 Jul 25 08:59 UTC] No.44569280[source]▶
Need a bit of oomph to move the very fabric of this universe a bit. But energy conversation laws say its just then spread all over the place across time, just like ripples in pond, suspended into nothingness of its own little universe... or something

Tells me a bit darker thing in between the lines - the chance some advanced civilization (or us in far future if we actually survive) traveling FTL by bending space massively is next to zero, we would see (or detect soon) the evidence... unless they do it on planck-level of precision and self-contain all ripples. Nah, it really seems c is the ultimate barrier so far... depressing.

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4. mr_toad ◴[15 Jul 25 12:33 UTC] No.44570479[source]▶
> Need a bit of oomph to move the very fabric of this universe a bit.

It’s enough “oomph” that we can detect it more than half way across the universe.