The Seattle Times took great delight in reprinting on November 7 a collection of metaphors used by straining science writers (and one scientist) to convey the image of a new cosmological feature:
Rapidly spinning black holes and neutron stars make the space around them swirl like water running down a drain. -- Matt Crenson, Associated Press.
. . . appear to be dragging space and time around them, just as tornadoes sweep up objects. -- Frank D. Roylance, Baltimore Sun.
. . . like the train of a wedding dress circling a twirling bride. -- K.C. Cole, Los Angeles Times.
. . . as a sheet would be warped . . . if an elephant were to sit on a bed . . . If the elephant twists around on the bed, his motion carries the sheet with him. -- K.C. Cole, Los Angeles Times.
. . . like twigs in a whirlpool. -- Tim Friend, Gannett.
. . . like a bowling ball rolling around in a fireman’s net. -- Kathy Sawyer, Washington Post.
. . . a massive, rotating body immersed in molasses -- Physicist Leonard Schiff in the Washington Post.