Chris Lintott’s Universe

I disagree with (almost) all of this. But you knew that, didn’t you?

And nothing to do with the book, either! There’s an exciting Chandra press release out today, about the most luminous supernova seen to date, 2006gy. Sadly, the language of the release grates just a little; in the text the scientists quoted are careful to say that it’s the most ‘intrinsically bright’ supernova, but the headline, also picked up by the BBC, calls it the brightest ever. As several in recorded history have been visible in daylight, this distant but powerful supernova is a long way away from that accolade.