But those lower-energy X-rays can be further distorted by layers of gas between the black hole and the Earth, and previous spin observations have been contentious.

BBC: First glimpse of a black hole's spin

Now, new modelling reveals that if the Earth had a much faster spin before the impact, the theory fits the chemistry.

BBC: Moon formation: New spins put on old questions

There is no company on Earth that knows how to spin a negative story into good positive vibes better than Apple ( AAPL), and the company did it again on Friday.

FORBES: Apple Maps Apology: Tim Cook's Grand Slam

Moments after Felix Baumgartner stepped from his capsule 24 miles above Earth, the intrepid skydiver slipped into a wild spin.

FORBES: Watch Felix Baumgartner's First-Person View Of His Death Spin

The satellite is spin-stabilized, meaning it can always face Earth and take high-resolution images.

MSN: Satellite's first photo of Earth is an impressive one

These are relatively small pieces of the earth's crust that, when caught between two larger plates, spin around as the larger plates move like a ball-bearing caught between two surfaces.

ECONOMIST: Geophysics