On a non-Racist note- Astronomers discover largest known structure in the universe is ... a big hole
 

http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--...d-620x310.jpeg

Astronomers have discovered what they say is the largest known structure in the universe: an incredibly big hole.

The ?supervoid?, as it is known, is a spherical blob 1.8 billion light years across that is distinguished by its unusual emptiness.

István Szapudi, who led the work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, described the object as possibly ?the largest individual structure ever identified by humanity?.

READ MORE HERE

Interesting shit. This stuff always pulls at my brain. Thought I would shar.

Discuss... what is it?

i was reading about this yesterday, fascinating! i'll read that article you linked.

interesting, the article i read prior suggested that a supervoid like this is not accounted for in the BBT, but the OP article suggests it suggests the universe is expanding.

but i've also read recently that new research is suggesting the universe is not at all expanding.

nutty times!

I blame Obama.

Fuckin' Obama, stealing our tax dollars, jobs, freedom, guns and now?.. our gallactic material!

He's gone too far this time.

#NoThirdTerm

I may get challenged on this.. but...

I believe it does neither, to be honest. Gravity changes warp the universe's density in any given "area" but the "size" never changes. Also remember that time moves slower near higher gravitational forces than it would where there are less gravitational forces. From afar, that spot may seem empty, but in reality, it's likely just slightly less dense than elsewhere while time moves ridiculously faster there due to that slightly less dense area and subsequent less gravitational forces, therefore being unobservable to us.

the universe is a closed-system that folds into itself over and over, infinitely.

A thought,

I've read before that to find that point of where it loops into itself, to find a point where density "appears" to be starkly different from each other, so I wonder if there is an abnormally dense (from our perspective) area that would match the perceived size of this hole anywhere... hmm.. I guess we would never know because things change depending on gravity and perspective..

We as humans can only guess..

a hole ? that's gay !

1.8 billion light years - when you think about the distance and that they can see that far it blows your mind :)

there's a reason Einstein never unified gravity with the other forces! i have no fucking clue what that reason is but neither does anybody else :1orglaugh

i fully believe we are all on the verge of massive monster super huge breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe, physics, life on other planets, exploration! :thumbsup

void, not a black hole, biiiigggg difference.

If a black hole happened to be that big, the gravity would probably have effect all the way out here.

it does capture light energy that passes by, not saying it's a black hole, just saying it's pretty nutty as compared to a black hole

awesomeness, thx for sharing