JWST reveals new surprises on galaxy organic molecules near black holes | Hacker News Reader

JWST reveals new surprises on galaxy organic molecules near black holes

phys.org

81 pointswglb8 comments

Full paper:

https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2022/10/aa44806-...

Original press release:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2022-10-11-james-webb-space-telesc...

JWST is just making all their data immediately available to all researchers who want to dig into it, which is an approach all other areas of science (particular government-financed medical-pharmaceutical research!) should adopt:

> "The authors acknowledge the MIRI comissioning, ERO and ERS teams for developing their observing program with a zero–exclusive–access period. The authors are extremely grateful to the JWST helpdesk for their constant and enthusiastic support."

> JWST is just making all their data immediately available to all researchers who want to dig into it

This is not generally true; it only applies to a narrow, specific class of programs. The "Early Release Observation" (observations chosen by the Space Telescope Science Institute) and "Early Release Science" observations (director's discretionary time awarded via a competitive proposal process a few years ago) do not have a proprietary period. However, the majority of the "General Observer" programs (these make up the majority of the time allocated on the telescope) have proprietary periods of up to 1 year. The proposers can request from a range of proprietary periods when they apply[0]. "Guaranteed Time Observations" (time awarded to the instrument teams) also have a proprietary period.

[0] https://jwst-docs.stsci.edu/jppom/jwst-proposal-level-inform...

I think my interest in the advances in science that JWST is bringing is largely eclipsed by the joy that the folks who lived for years with a gnawing concern that it may never see first light are able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their effort.

Have you read Greg Egan's "Permutation City"? Of course you have.

Second part. When they were manipulating the artificial universe from "outside".

They worked from just beyond the edge of the universe (its "event horizon") and cajoled the rare molecule into hooking up with its neighbors just so. Thus crafting complex apparatus... and thus an invasion robot was produced.

I literally have no idea what this comment is talking about.

Greg Egan's "Permutation City", ostensibly.

swayvil implies that our universe matches the kind depicted in Greg Egan's novel, Permutation City. In the second half of the book, the protagonists simulate a universe. That universe develops intelligent life that begin to threaten the simulation. So, the protagonists create an in universe representation of themselves - the 'invasion robot' that swayvil mentions - at the edge of the universe. So, by treating the NGC 7469 black hole's event horizon as equivalent to that 'edge of the universe' of the story, swayvil suggests that we have caught sight of ~god assembling a metatron from base components, on its way to convince us of its existence.

Nice summation:)

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