[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Computer simulations of how black holes swallow
matter show surprising violence and turbulence.
(Image Credit: Johns Hopkins University)

[meandog]

...matter plunges quickly, smoothly and quietly into the black hole. In the end, according to the prevailing picture, the black hole -- except for exerting its gravitational pull -- is a passive recipient of mass donations.

Finally! Someone has finally explained the success of (black hole) Rev. Jesse Jackson in gaining mass donations from the corporate community!

[ELS]

Very cool.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Close-up simulation here: http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/realmedia/hole1.mpg

Entire simulation here: http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/realmedia/hole2.mpg

Electromagnetic energy simulation here: http://www.astro.virginia.edu/VITA/jetmovie.mpg

[Revelation 911]

isnt "Hole" that Courtney Love band ?

huhuhhuhhuuh

[meandog]

I would assume that black holes would be a rather crushing experience (pun intended) rather than an imaginary passage to a parallel universe...the science is very intriguing. I understand that black holes do hold some promise as an engine for future space vehicles (tapping upon their massive attraction properties).

[longshadow]

Good article;

DEPLOY THE PING LIST!

[roaddog727]

Chaos theroy applied to black holes.

Absolutely.

[zeugma]

bump for later enjoyment.

[jb6]

What I don't understand is this: matter can not be destroyed nor created. So, does a black hole ever reach capacity? You can only condense atoms so far and under that kind of pressure God knows what radioactive elements they would form, but still, they would continue to build up. So: 1. does it reach capacity? 2. is there a solid, super dense center of a black hole. 3. Does a black hole ever die or is the universe going to be eventually consumed by black holes? 4. Is there any evidence that it folds time/space, that the event horizon is an infinity margin?