How do supermassive black-holes grow so super and massive?

At the heart of most galaxies lurks a black super giant, a massive black hole, usually about two percent of the mass of the entire galaxy it rules. These objects seemed to have evolved very early in the cosmos. Some are so energetic they can be seen powering quasars across billions of years of time and space. But scientists only know one way for a black-hole to form, and those objects have only a few solar masses. How do they get to a million or a billion times that? [Read more…]

Keyword: Titanoboa

Hot planetary action, a former hot Russian “model” turned astronuat spokesperson, and various scandals and eye-popping political whoppers are all good link bait. But I’m proud to say that that giant snake deal, Titanoboa, must be a hit for the Smithsonian, because searches for it top my inbound list by about a hundred to one over anything else. And as we say in the trading business, the trend is your friend. So, posted below are pics/links about giant prehistoric boa constrictors for science students and interested parties. [Read more…]

Bomb damages Planned Parenthood clinic in Wisconsin

Yet another unrelated isolated home-grown terrorist incident:

CBS News) — Authorities say someone placed the small device on an outside window sill about 7:40 p.m. Sunday at the clinic in Grand Chute, near Appleton. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin CEO Teri Huyck said in a statement that there was minimal damage to an exam room and that the clinic will reopen Tuesday. No one was in the building at the time.