It's long been theorized that a massive black hole lies at the center of our galaxy, so I would imagine such gamma "bubbles" would be the result of the huge amounts of matter being accreted from nearby stars in the densely populated galactic core.
@3: When a black hole forms, a huge gamma ray burst occurs, which flies out through space in two directions at the speed of light. We discovered this when we were scanning radiation in space looking for evidence the Soviets were testing nukes ON THE MOON.
I believe they are the biggest explosions in the univers since the Big Bang. If we were to lose the galactic lottery and get hit by one, Earth would more or less be a scorched rock, and there is nothing we could do about it. Good times.
What I find mysterious is why the jets become this spherical structure. The pull of gravity from the galactic disk should be exerting an influence so some matter traveling less than perpendicular might tend to curve back toward the disk, but it surprises me the forces would be in such balance than a spherical structure would emerge.
My understanding is that the lobes are not the result of a gamma ray burst, but are themselves emitting gamma rays, and x-rays. Whatever was ejected from the galactic center was hot enough that it continued or continues to burn many millions of years later.
@3 - there is a region around a black hole, but outside the "trapped forever" boundary, where space time is spinning. Because of conservation of angular momentum and all that jazz, some stuff gets ejected outwards along the axis of rotation.
@18, what do you expect. Every time I come here to see election endorsements it reads like a string of profanity by a drunk grandfather (except my grandfather ranted about O-buma).
When matter falls in towards a black hole, some of it ends up being ejected in jets aligned to the hole's axis of rotation rather than actually falling past the event horizon. The gravitational energy released tends to heat and compress the accretion disk, meaning that the polar jets usually glow brightly at whatever points in the spectrum: usually X and gamma rays near the hole itself with further, more dispersed, gas emitting radio waves.
This is off the top of my head, don't take it as gospel.
@21: I was referring to the Arrested Development reference in the link, something that often happens at light speed around here. Bailo was referring to AC/DC, if I am not mistaken.
Send all republicans to the "black hole" Promise them huge testicles and young virgins, probably get rid of at least half of them before elections. (Erections before elections) New campaign promise for the uneducated republican voter base.
(Can't believe no one beat me to this one).
I believe they are the biggest explosions in the univers since the Big Bang. If we were to lose the galactic lottery and get hit by one, Earth would more or less be a scorched rock, and there is nothing we could do about it. Good times.
My understanding is that the lobes are not the result of a gamma ray burst, but are themselves emitting gamma rays, and x-rays. Whatever was ejected from the galactic center was hot enough that it continued or continues to burn many millions of years later.
When matter falls in towards a black hole, some of it ends up being ejected in jets aligned to the hole's axis of rotation rather than actually falling past the event horizon. The gravitational energy released tends to heat and compress the accretion disk, meaning that the polar jets usually glow brightly at whatever points in the spectrum: usually X and gamma rays near the hole itself with further, more dispersed, gas emitting radio waves.
This is off the top of my head, don't take it as gospel.
I remain victorious!