THE WHATIS.COM WORD-OF-THE-DAY May 5, 2004 black hole _____________ SPONSORED BY: Microsoft
Attn: All ISVs - Grow your .NET Connected architecture and developer skills .NET helps contain development cost, cuts time to market, improves interoperability, and cuts TCO. Attend Microsoft's .NET Connected Roadshow or online training to learn .NET Connected architecture and developer skills. Attendees will receive a free copy of Microsoft Office 2003 and much more! http://WhatIs.com/r/0,,28217,00.htm?track=NL-34&ad=482145µsoft ______________________ TODAY'S WORD: black hole See our complete definition with hyperlinks at http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci961932,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 1) The term "black hole" is sometimes used to refer to an imaginary place where objects, files, or funds go when they get lost for no apparent reason. 2) In physics and astronomy, a black hole is a region in time and space within which gravity is so strong that nothing can escape, not even electromagnetic radiation such as visible light. Black holes are thought to surround certain celestial objects. The idea of a black hole (if not the term itself) is not new. As the intensity of the gravitational field around an object increases, so does the escape velocity. The escape velocity for a celestial mass (such as a star, planet, or moon) is the vertical speed with which an object must be hurled from the surface in order to fly forever beyond the gravitational influence of the mass. If a substantial celestial body such as a star becomes small enough in diameter, the escape velocity at the surface can theoretically exceed the velocity of light. This idea occurred to astronomers even in Isaac Newton's time. Modern astronomers believe they have observed black holes, consisting of stars that have collapsed under their own gravitation after spending their nuclear fuel. Black holes are also believed to exist at the centers of galaxies, including our own. A black hole produces bizarre effects on time and space. As seen from outside, an object falling into a black hole would approach the so-called event horizon, which is a spherical "one-way membrane" or "Rubicon" surrounding the black hole itself. If the object were a clock, it would seem to run more and more slowly as it approached the event horizon, and would never quite make it inside the black hole. >From the reference frame of the falling object, nothing out of the ordinary would take place in the rate at which time passed, and the entry to the black hole would proceed apace, although the gravitational force near the event horizon might tear the falling object apart. Black holes have been fodder for wild ideas and science-fiction stories since the concept became well known in the mid-1900s. Some scenarios are sensational to the point of madness. For example, suppose a tiny black hole, manufactured for use as a doomsday weapon, were dropped onto the surface of the earth? It would, as the story goes, proceed to devour the planet with unstoppable and phenomenal violence. ______________________ RELATED TERMS: time http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci552553,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 space http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci962691,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 gravity http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci962687,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 ______________________ SELECTED LINKS: The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London describes the concept of a black hole. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/guidry/violence/black2.html Mount Holyoke College discusses black holes, with illustrations and links to further information. http://home.mtholyoke.edu/~maiovann/BLACK_HOLES.html _____________________ TODAY'S TECH NEWS: SUSE CTO: NOVELL GIVES LINUX 'MUSCLE' Novell Inc. is banking its re-entry into the consciousness of IT shops on Linux. http://searchenterpriselinux.techtarget.com/qna/0,289202,sid39_gci962550,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 MESSAGING HEADACHES MAY TURN INTO MIGRAINES Virus writers, spammers and even the feds are straining e-mail systems. And if you think things are bad today, tougher times are likely ahead. http://searchdomino.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid4_gci962715,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 HDS UPDATES SOFTWARE, ADDS ANOTHER BOX HDS has released a storage management module for Sybase and more automation functions. In addition it has introduced a second mid-range storage array. http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid5_gci962740,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 >> Catch up on all the latest IT news at http://searchtechtarget.techtarget.com?track=NL-34&ad=482145 ______________________ HOROSCOPES FOR GEEKS | May Find out what the universe has in store for you this month! http://searchcio.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid19_gci919205,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 ______________________ GUIDE TO NETWORK ADMINISTRATION SearchNetworking.com polled network administrators about daily tasks and offered their best information about each task in this handy guide to network administration. http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid7_gci958513,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 ______________________ SECRET WORD-OF-THE-DAY | What is IT? In a business context, this doesn't usually involve ladders or hoses but, as in the real world, it's still a diversion of resources needed to deal with an unforeseen emergency situation. Do you think you know the Secret Word? Click to see if you're right! http://searchcio.techtarget.com/gDefinition/0,294236,sid19_gci959603,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 ______________________________ RECENT ADDITIONS AND UPDATES (1) black hole http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci961932,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 (2) cold fusion http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci961683,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 (3) ColdFusion http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci211812,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 (4) virtual desktop manager http://searchwin2000.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid1_gci959452,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 (5) derived object http://searchdatabase.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid13_gci960249,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=482145 ____________________________________________________________________ ::::::::::::::::::: WHATIS.COM CONTACTS ::::::::::::::::::: MARGARET ROUSE, Site Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) IVY WIGMORE, Consulting Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) LOWELL THING, Consulting Editor and Founder ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) GABRIELLE DERUSSY, Advertising ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ::::::::::::::::::::: ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER :::::::::::::::::::::: This e-newsletter is published by WhatIs.com, a targeted Web site from TechTarget, the most targeted IT media and events company. 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