The newfound bubble [around black hole Cygnus X-1] is about 10 light-years across and is expanding at about 225,000 mph (100 kilometers per second). Its creation has been ongoing for a million years or so. Astronomers are excited about the disovery because it is impossible to measure directly the power of jets like this one. By noting the interaction at the bubble, however, the researchers were able to calculate the jet's power.
The jet packs about 100,000 times more energy than our Sun.
"Remarkably, it also means that, after a massive star dies and turns into a black hole, it is still capable of energizing its surroundings, by means of completely different mechanisms," [University of Amsterdam's Elena] Gallo said.
Astronomers suspect there are millions of black holes similar to Cygnus X-1.
The cycle of life goes on, even for the universe. Stars die, but apparently they turn into the soil that feeds the space around them.
Makes me want to listen to Rush some more, especially this album.
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