This orange dot represents a gamma-ray burst, thought to indicate an extraordinary event.
ESO/A. Levan, A. Martin-Carrillo et al.
A black hole that has consumed a star appears to have avenged itself by devouring the star from within, generating a gamma-ray burst located approximately 9 billion light-years from Earth.
This burst, known as GRB 250702B, was initially identified by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in July. Such bursts are brilliant flashes of light due to jets produced by high-energy occurrences, like massive stars collapsing into black holes or the merging of neutron stars, and generally last only a few minutes.
However, GRB 250702B lasted an astonishing 25,000 seconds, equating to about 7 hours, which makes it the longest gamma-ray burst on record. Researchers have struggled to account for this phenomenon, but Eliza Knights and her team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center propose an unusual and rare scenario.
“The only [model] providing a natural explanation for the characteristics observed in GRB 250702B involves a stellar-mass black hole falling into the star,” the researchers mentioned in their published study.
In a typical long gamma-ray burst, a massive star collapses to create a black hole and emits a jet during its demise. In this situation, however, the research team posits the inverse. An existing black hole spiraled into a companion star, whose outer layers had expanded during its later stages, resulting in the black hole losing angular momentum and descending toward the star’s center.
The black hole then incinerated the star from the inside, producing a powerful jet perceived as GRB 250702B, potentially causing a faint supernova, although it remained too dim for detection at this distance by the James Webb Space Telescope.
This theory is beneficial for understanding the mechanisms behind ultra-long bursts. Hendrik van Eerten from the University of Bath, UK, remarks, “The arguments presented in this paper are very persuasive.”
Knights and her team hope that, with the help of telescopes like the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile, we may observe more such events in the future. Meanwhile, van Eerten describes the gamma-ray burst as “absurd.”
Astronomers leveraged data from the Radio Astron satellite to generate radio images of two supermassive black holes located at the core of a distant quasar, OJ287. The secondary black hole follows a 12-year orbit around the primary black hole.
The RadioAstron will map two supermassive black holes at the center of galaxy OJ 287, located about 5 billion light-years away in the constellation Cancer. The middle component corresponds to a primary black hole, while the next higher component indicates a secondary black hole, and the highest component represents the knot of its jet. The apparent elongation of the individual components is not real but rather reflects the beam’s shape. Image credit: Valtonen et al., doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae057e.
Quasars are exceptionally luminous galactic nuclei whose brightness arises when a supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s center consumes surrounding cosmic gas and dust.
Previously, astronomers have successfully captured images of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way and another in the nearby galaxy known as Messier 87.
“Quasar OJ 287 is so luminous that even amateur astronomers using commercial telescopes can observe it,” remarked Dr. Mauri Valtonen, an astronomer from the University of Turku.
“What sets OJ 287 apart is that it is believed to have two black holes that orbit each other every 12 years, creating a distinct pattern of light fluctuations over the same interval.”
“The earliest observations of OJ 287 date back to the 19th century, captured through old photographs.”
“At that time, the concept of black holes, not to mention quasars, was unimaginable.”
“OJ 287 was inadvertently captured in photographs while astronomers were focused on other celestial objects.”
In 1982, Dr. Valtonen observed that the brightness of the object varied regularly over a 12-year cycle.
He continued his research as a university scholar and proposed that these brightness variations could be due to two black holes orbiting one another.
Numerous astronomers have been closely monitoring quasars to validate this theory and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the orbital motion of the black holes.
The mystery regarding this orbit was finally clarified four years ago by astronomer Lankeswar Dey from the University of Turku.
The only remaining question was whether both black holes could be detected simultaneously.
The solution came from NASA’s TESS satellite, which identified light emission from both black holes.
However, the images captured under normal light lacked the resolution to distinguish the black holes as separate entities, so they were still represented merely as single points.
What was necessary were images with a resolution 100,000 times greater than that attainable by standard radio telescopes.
In this research, Valtonen and his collaborators compared initial theoretical models with radio images.
The two black holes were precisely positioned in the images where they were anticipated to be.
This finding successfully addressed a question that had lingered for four decades: the existence of black hole pairs.
“For the first time, we were able to create images revealing two black holes in orbit around each other,” noted Dr. Valtonen.
“In the image, the black hole is marked by the powerful jets of particles it emits.”
“While the black hole itself is entirely black, it can be identified by the jets of particles and the luminous gas surrounding it.”
Researchers also discovered a completely new type of jet emanating from black holes.
The jet from the secondary black hole of OJ 287 is twisted, resembling the jet from a spinning garden hose.
“This is due to the smaller black hole moving more swiftly around the primary black hole, causing its jet to be deflected according to its current trajectory,” the authors explained.
Their paper was published in the Astrophysical Journal.
_____
Mauri J. Valtonen et al. 2025. Secondary jet identified in RadioAstron images of OJ 287. APJ 992, 110; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae057e
Here’s a glimpse from the elusive newsletter of space-time. Each month, we let physicists and mathematicians share intriguing ideas stemming from the universe’s far corners. To join this exploration, Sign up for Losing Space and Time here.
“So you have written a book on black holes?”
The stranger sips their cocktail. We are mingling at a gathering, showcasing our conversations. I nodded slightly, mixing my piña colada.
“Well then,” the stranger continues, their gaze fixed intently on me. Is it truly the case that the entire universe resembles a black hole?”
It’s a familiar inquiry. This question often arises when I mention my years spent at observatories, engaging with scientists about our understanding of these cosmic giants.
People are naturally curious. The media frequently reports on distant galaxies coming into view as we gaze out into space. Videos sharing these concepts amass millions of views on platforms like YouTube. Though it seems like fiction, the scientific exploration of this notion began as early as 1972, when physicist Raj Kumar Pathria submitted a letter to Nature titled “The Universe as a Black Hole.” This topic has surfaced repeatedly since then.
So, is it feasible?
How to create a black hole
In simple terms, black holes are regions in space where gravity is so intense that not even light can escape.
These enigmatic entities were first mathematically described by astronomer Karl Schwarzschild during World War I. Amidst the sounds of battle on the Western Front, he was intrigued by how Albert Einstein’s groundbreaking general relativity predicted planetary dynamics and stellar structures.
Schwarzschild derived a formula detailing how space and time behave in ways that defy common experience, creating areas that would be termed black holes.
This discovery provided profound insights into black hole dynamics. It requires a particular mass, like that of a human, planet, or star, compressed within a volume determined by Schwarzschild’s formula, et voilà! A black hole emerges.
The critical volume varies with the object’s mass. For a human being, this volume is minuscule, a hundred times smaller than a proton. For Earth, it’s akin to a golf ball, while for the Sun, the volume resembles the size of downtown Los Angeles (approximately 6 km, or just under 4 miles).
Creating black holes is challenging. Under typical conditions, materials tend not to compress to incredibly high densities. Only extreme cosmic events, like the supernova explosion of a massive star, can compel matter to collapse into a black hole.
Interestingly, the black holes formed from dying stars come from extremely dense matter, whereas the much larger supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies possess much lower densities. According to Schwarzschild’s equation, bigger black holes actually have less average density than air!
So what about the universe itself? Given that it consists largely of empty space, can such density relate to that of black holes?
Polarized light from the cosmic microwave background
ESA/Planck Collaboration
Measuring Space
With the help of Schwarzschild’s formula, astronomers can ascertain whether an object is a black hole. First, determine its mass. Next, ascertain the volume. If the object’s mass is contained within a volume smaller than that specified by Schwarzschild’s equation, it qualifies as a black hole.
Now, applying this concept to the entire universe requires knowledge of its mass and volume. However, determining the universe’s total size is impossible, as wandering with a cosmic ruler isn’t feasible. Instead, we can observe light and particles that come to us from the cosmos.
The oldest light we detect originates from the cosmic microwave background, which was produced a mere 380,000 years after the Big Bang. As the universe expands, the origin of this light is now astronomically distant. In fact, the total distance light has traveled since the Big Bang allows us to see an observable universe with a diameter of about 93 billion light years.
Through rigorous measurements over many years, astronomers estimate the mass contained within this volume to be approximately 1054 kg (that’s a 1 followed by 54 zeros).
Next, let’s calculate the hypothetical size of a black hole with this mass using Schwarzschild’s formula. After some calculations, it turns out that such a black hole would be roughly three times larger than the observable universe, measuring around 300 billion light years across. Thus, simply from the observed mass and size of the universe, it seems to satisfy the criteria of being a black hole.
“Wow,” exclaimed the curious stranger at the cocktail party, “Does this mean the universe is indeed a black hole?”
“Not so fast, my friend,” I replied. To grasp this question fully, we must delve deeper into the nature of black holes.
Into the Void
Black holes are peculiar. One of their odd characteristics is that while they appear to be fixed sizes externally, they are continuously evolving internally. According to Schwarzschild’s formula, the internal space elongates in one dimension while compressing in the other two simultaneously. (If a black hole spins, its interior behaves differently, but that’s a tale for another time.)
Cosmologists refer to this structure as anisotropy. The term derives from tropos, meaning “direction,” and iso, meaning “equal,” alongside an, denoting negation. The dynamics of anisotropy within a black hole leads to one spatial direction expanding while the other two contract. This phenomenon, along with the infamous spaghettification, relates to the tidal forces experienced by any object drawn in.
In contrast, the universe expands isotropically (uniformly in all directions). Doesn’t that sound akin to the interior of a black hole?
However, this doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a “universe as a black hole.” Both structures share two pivotal features: the event horizon and singularity.
The event horizon marks a boundary beyond which light cannot escape. For a black hole, this signifies a point of no return for anything crossing this threshold. In the universe, space expands so swiftly that light from exceedingly distant galaxies cannot reach us.
The event horizon of our universe can be thought of as an inverted version of a black hole’s event horizon. The former limits our observation from the furthest reaches of space, while the latter confines us from seeing beyond its depths.
This reciprocal relationship is also observable in the singularity—the point where density and curvature of spacetime become infinite. According to Schwarzschild’s formula, the singularity is a destination for unfortunate astronauts crossing a black hole’s event horizon. Conversely, our cosmological models indicate that singularities exist in the past—backtracking the universe’s expansion leads every space point closer together, intensifying density. In this context, the beginnings of the Big Bang culminate in a singularity. So, for black holes, this mathematical singularity lies in the future; for our expanding universe, it exists in the past. In both instances, the complexity indicated signifies just how little we understand about these dense, enigmatic points.
Sum it all up—the disparities in expansion, event horizon, and singularity—paint a convincing picture of our universe: it’s not a black hole. It just doesn’t fit that label!
“But wait,” the stranger interjects, feeling disheartened, “I thought we calculated that the universe met the criteria for a black hole.”
“While the computations are indeed accurate,” I explain, “we observe that mathematical relationships akin to Schwarzschild’s also align within the context of an expanding universe. This isn’t exclusively characteristic of black holes.”
It suggests that strange phenomena exist at the largest cosmic scales, beyond our observational reach with telescopes. However, according to models of non-rotating, expanding black holes, our universe lacks the definitive traits that categorize it as a black hole. What to make of it? Personally, I view it as a testament to gravity’s versatility, crafting magnificent structures that encapsulate the essence of time and space.
Jets erupting from the black hole at the heart of the Galaxy M87
Jan Röder; Maciek Wielgus et al. (2025)
Over a hundred years ago, Heber Curtis identified the inaugural black hole jet, a tremendous stream of heated plasma emerging from the supermassive black hole located in the core of the Galaxy M87. The James Webb Space Telescope is currently scrutinizing this jet with remarkable precision.
Since its initial observation in 1918, the M87 jet gained fame for being connected to the first imaged black hole in 2019; however, it has been analyzed by various telescopes and is arguably the most extensively studied black hole jet. Yet, many aspects of its behavior, like some intensely luminous regions and darker spiral-shaped sections, still lack thorough explanation. Astronomers suspect these may be the result of jet beam refocusing or varying chains that form upon interacting with new materials like the dense gaseous regions. Nonetheless, the fundamental mechanisms remain elusive.
Recently, Maciek Wielgus from the Institute of Astrophysics in Andalusia, Spain, along with his colleagues, utilized the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to further unveil the famous luminous features of the M87 jets. They also succeeded in capturing a striking and less frequently observed counterjet that shoots out in the opposite direction from the other side of the black hole.
Wielgus and his team analyzed data retrieved from another project examining the M87 star, where JWST’s infrared sensors proved particularly effective. The overwhelming starlight complicated the jet analysis, necessitating the data to be re-evaluated to filter out the extraneous light. “This is a classic example of what astronomers often describe as using another’s discarded data,” notes Wielgus.
The first bright region identified in the jet is termed Hubble Space Telescope 1, in acknowledgment of the discovering telescope, and is believed to result from the jet’s compression entering a higher pressure environment. This phenomenon resembles the bright diamond-shaped patterns seen in rocket engine exhausts.
Researchers can also observe the far end of the jet on the opposite side of M87. As it propels away from us at speeds nearing the speed of light, Einstein’s theory of special relativity renders it much dimmer than it inherently is. However, when this beam encounters another area of gas with varying pressures, it expands and becomes perceptible.
This indicates the end of the material foam surrounding M87, alongside the visible termination of the jet nearest to us. With the imaging of the other end of the jet in such detail in infrared, astronomers can commence modeling the gas structures present within this bubble, states Wielgus.
The Mystery of the Universe: Cheshire, England
Join some of the leading scientific minds for a weekend exploring the enigmas of the universe. Engage in an exciting agenda that includes a visit to the renowned Lovell telescope.
The Big Bang may have been an explosive rebound from a collapsing black hole.
According to a new study led by Enrique Gastagnaga at the University of Portsmouth, this paper posits that the Big Bang was actually a “big bounce,” triggered when matter fell into a massive, compressed black hole, leading to a rebound and subsequent expansion that formed the universe.
“In essence, our entire observable universe could exist within a black hole in a larger universe,” Gastagnaga stated. BBC Science Focus.
I was trapped in event horizon
A recently published study in Physical Review D re-evaluated the fate of a dense, large gas cloud collapsing under its own gravity.
Instead of leading to an infinitely dense point known as a singularity, this research suggests that the collapse halts at a certain point before bouncing back.
This rebound initiates a rapid expansion akin to what cosmologists theorize occurred post-Big Bang. In a way, our reality might be trapped at the event horizon of a black hole.
The “black hole universe model” offers insights into key issues concerning the current mainstream understanding of cosmology known as the standard model.
The standard model necessitates a period of inflation, suggesting the entire cosmos expanded rapidly just moments after the Big Bang. It also involves “dark energy,” the elusive material responsible for the universe’s expansion.
“However, we lack a true understanding of these components,” Gastagnaga noted. “Conversely, both phases of rapid expansion arise naturally in the black hole universe model, attributed to its bounce geometry and dynamics.
“One compelling aspect of this model is its simplicity. It relies solely on gravity and quantum mechanics to elucidate the expansion, inflation, and dark energy of the universe without requiring additional assumptions or unknown elements.”
The black hole universe model does face its own distinct challenges. For instance, dark matter remains poorly understood. We recognize the presence of this invisible material throughout the universe, holding galaxies together, yet astronomers struggle to identify its nature.
“Certain forms of dark matter could be linked to remnants from our universe’s collapse phase, but further exploration of this idea is necessary,” Gastagnaga revealed.
Our entire universe might be confined within the event horizon of a black hole – Credit: Getty Images
If the universe originated in a black hole, we could still exist within one. Some of the black holes we observe might represent mini cosmos, each with their own miniature black holes.
“This can be envisioned as a nested structure—one black hole within another, akin to Russian nesting dolls,” Gastagnaga explained.
However, not every one of the trillion black holes in our universe necessarily contains its own miniature cosmos, as the size of the black holes influences the time available for small structures to form.
“Large black holes (like ours) allow for the development of galaxies, stars, and planets, while smaller ones may evolve too rapidly for anything noteworthy to occur,” Gastagnaga stated.
“This is crucial because gravitational collapse predicts the existence of significantly smaller black holes than the large ones. The fact that we reside within one of the rare, very large cases might not simply be a coincidence.
The concept of a black hole universe emerged when Gastagnaga and his team adopted a new perspective on the origins of our universe.
“Rather than assuming the universe began with an inexplicable ‘bang’, we reversed our approach, starting with matter collapsing into a black hole,” he detailed.
It all revolves around the principle of quantum exclusion principle. In brief, this principle asserts that two identical particles cannot occupy the same space at once.
Thus, there exists a limit to how densely particles can be arranged before compaction becomes untenable according to the quantum exclusion principle.
This limitation is one reason why stars like white dwarfs do not simply collapse under their own weight.
“The exclusion principle is also applicable to some black holes,” Gastagnaga explained. “It halts material from collapsing into a singular point by slowing the process, stopping it at high density, causing a bounce, and entirely avoiding singularity.”
Relic black hole
The theory that the universe began with the Big Bang is sound in theory, but cosmologists cannot confirm its validity until it undergoes testing.
Fortunately, this theory generates specific predictions regarding the appearance of our universe, allowing astronomers to assess its validity.
“We predict that the universe is slightly curved; it behaves like a sphere but isn’t perfectly flat,” Gastagnaga explained.
The first direct visual evidence of a black hole (at the heart of the elliptical galaxy Messier 87 in the Virgo constellation) was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope in April 2017. -Photo Credit: EHT Collaboration
Most efforts to measure the universe’s curvature have indicated it is flat, but there may exist subtle bends that current methods are not sensitive enough to detect. Hence, the European Space Agency’s Euclidean spacecraft is engaged in the most precise measurements of cosmic curvature to date, with completion expected by 2030.
“It also predicts the presence of Relic black holes and Relic neutron stars—objects that survived the bounce and formed during the collapse stages, which may still exist today,” Gastagnaga added.
These relics could have shaped the evolution of galaxies and stars over time. There is potential to identify the signatures of these artifacts in our current observations of the universe, revealing whether they reside within black holes.
Molecular gas and X-ray emissions around Sagittarius A*, a black hole in the Milky Way.
Mark D. Golsky et al. (CC by 4.0)
Researchers have confirmed that hot winds are emanating from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Galaxy for the first time.
In contrast to many other supermassive black holes throughout the universe, Sagittarius A* (SGR A*) remains relatively subdued. Unlike its more active counterparts that emit vast jets, SGR A* does not produce such striking displays. While many supermassive black holes create winds, which are streams of hot gas that originate near the event horizon, these have never been definitively observed around SGR A*, despite theoretical predictions dating back to the 1970s.
Mark Golsky and Elena Marchikova from Northwestern University, Illinois, utilized the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile to conduct a more detailed study of the cold gas in the innermost region of the Circumnuclear Disk (CND). Their observations revealed an unexpectedly large volume of cold gas and a distinct cone that penetrates through the hot gas.
“To find such a significant amount of cold gas so close to the black hole was surprising,” says Golsky. “Conventional understanding suggested it was unlikely to be there, which is why we hadn’t previously searched for it. When I shared this image, my colleague remarked, ‘We need to investigate this further, as it’s been a puzzle for over 50 years.’”
Golsky and Marchikova’s five years of observations provided a detailed analysis of the innermost part of the CND, mapping cold gases within a vicinity of SGR A* 100 times previous measurements. By simulating and subtracting the bright variability of SGR A*, they could isolate the dim light from the cold gas.
This approach revealed a pronounced cone region nearly devoid of cold gas, and when they overlaid X-ray emissions (produced by the hot gas), a striking correlation emerged. The energy required to propel the hot gas through this cone approximates that of 25,000 suns—far too substantial to originate from nearby stars or supernovae, indicating it likely derives from SGR A* itself. “The energy necessary comes directly from the black hole, confirming the presence of winds originating from it,” Golsky states.
<p>Prior observations have identified expansive gas bubbles, known as Fermi bubbles, situated above and below the galaxy. However, the possibility of these jets reforming remains uncertain. Understanding this wind phenomenon sheds light on why SGR A* shows lower activity and enhances our comprehension of black hole evolution.</p>
<p>The implications of the reduced wind activity surrounding SGR A* are exciting. If verified, findings by <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1VNwK9gAAAAJ&hl=en">Ziri Younsi</a> from University College London could offer crucial insights into the nature of the black hole, including its rotational direction. Astronomers have postulated that SGR A* spins perpendicular to the Milky Way plane, implying a need for edge-on observation. However, the inaugural image of a black hole captured by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2022 produced inconclusive data, suggesting a possible in-person orientation.</p>
<p>“The mass of Sagittarius A* is well-defined by current observations, but its tilt angle relative to us remains largely unknown,” explains Younsi. “If these findings are robust, understanding the origins of these matter flows will be genuinely fascinating, as it will provide insights into how material spirals toward the black hole, contributing to our knowledge of galactic evolution.”</p>
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A newly identified supermassive black hole resides in the center of the “Little Red Dot” galaxy, known as Capers-LRD-Z9, existing merely 500 million years after the Big Bang.
Artistic impressions of Capers-Lrd-Z9. Image credit: Erik Zumalt, University of Texas, Austin.
“Finding a black hole like this pushes the limits of what we can currently detect,” remarked Dr. Anthony Taylor, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.
“We’re truly expanding the boundaries of technological capability today.”
“While astronomers have identified more distant candidates, clear spectroscopic signatures for black holes have yet to be found,” noted Dr. Stephen Finkelstein from the University of Texas at Austin.
The astronomers conducted their research using data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, as part of the CAPERS (Candels-Area Prism Epoch of Reionization Survey) program.
Initially regarded as a mere speck in the program images, Capers-LRD-Z9 is now recognized as part of a newly classified category of galaxies called Little Red Dots.
“The find of the Little Red Dot was a surprising revelation from initial Webb data. It did not resemble the galaxies captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope,” Dr. Finkelstein explained.
“We are currently working to understand what they are and how they formed.”
Capers-Lrd-Z9 contributes to the growing evidence that the ultra-large black hole plays a critical role in the unusual luminosity of small red dots.
Typically, such brightness signifies a galaxy teeming with stars. However, in the absence of substantial stellar mass, these small red dots cease to exist.
These galaxies may also help clarify what causes the distinct red hue observed in small red dots, which is altered to a red wavelength as it passes through surrounding gas clouds encircling the black hole.
“I’ve observed these clouds in other galaxies,” Dr. Taylor stated.
“When I compared this object to others, it was unmistakable.”
Capers-LRD-Z9 merits attention due to the immense size of its black hole.
It’s estimated to be as massive as 300 million solar masses, equating to half the total star mass within the galaxy. This size is notably large, even among supermassive black holes.
By discovering such massive black holes early on, astronomers provide a unique opportunity to investigate the growth and evolution of these entities.
Black holes existing in later epochs had diverse opportunities for growth over their lifetimes, yet this was not the case during the initial hundreds of millions of years.
“This reinforces the increasing evidence that early black holes grew much faster than previously believed,” Dr. Finkelstein mentioned.
“Or they might have originated much larger than our models suggested.”
These findings are detailed in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal.
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Anthony J. Taylor et al. 2025. Capers-Lrd-Z9: Gasensing Little Dot hosts Broadline’s active galactic nucleus at z = 9.288. apjl 989, L7; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ade789
The immense black hole at the center of Radio Quasar RACS J032021.44-352104.1 (shortened to RACS J0320-35) is currently expanding at one of the fastest rates ever recorded.
Artist illustrations and x-ray images from Chandra for Racs J0320-35. Image credits: NASA/CXC/INAF-BRERA/IGHINA et al. / SAO / M. WEISS / N. WOLK.
The black hole residing in RACS J0320-35 has a mass approximately 1 billion times greater than that of the sun.
This system is situated about 12.8 billion light-years away from Earth, meaning astronomers are observing it as it existed just 920 million years after the universe’s inception.
It emits more X-rays than any other black hole identified in the universe’s first billion years.
Black holes are the driving force behind what scientists refer to as quasars.
This luminous giant’s energy is fueled by the significant amount of material that falls into the black hole.
The same research team discovered this black hole two years prior, but further observations from Chandra were required in 2023 to gain more insights.
Data from X-ray observations suggests that this black hole is expanding at a rate that exceeds the typical limits for such objects.
“It was somewhat surprising to observe such a dramatic growth in this black hole,” commented Dr. Luca Idina, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
As material is drawn towards the black hole, it heats up and generates intense radiation across a wide spectrum, including X-rays and optical light. This radiation creates pressure on the infalling material.
Once the falling speed reaches a critical threshold, the radiation pressure counterbalances the black hole’s gravity, making it usually impossible for material to fall inward more rapidly. This upper limit is known as the Eddington limit.
Researchers believe that black holes growing slower than the Eddington limit must originate with solar masses exceeding 10,000, allowing them to achieve a mass of 1 billion solar masses in the early universe.
Such massive black holes may originate from unique processes, often linked to incredibly dense clouds of gas that contain heavier elements than helium.
Interestingly, RACS J0320-35 is expanding at a remarkable speed, estimated to be 2.4 times greater than the Eddington limit, indicating that its formation may have followed a more typical path, beginning with a mass of less than 100 solar masses resulting from massive star explosions.
“By determining a black hole’s mass and growth rate, we can infer its initial size,” said Dr. Alberto Moretti, an astronomer at INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera.
“This calculation permits us to evaluate various theories regarding the formation of black holes.”
To investigate how rapidly this black hole is growing (at rates between 300 and 3,000 solar masses per year), researchers compared the theoretical model with Chandra’s X-ray spectra, assessing the X-rays emitted at various energy levels.
The findings indicated that Chandra’s spectrum closely matched their expectations based on a model for black holes developing beyond the Eddington limit.
Supporting data from optical and infrared observations further corroborates the conclusion that this black hole is accumulating mass faster than the Eddington limit permits.
“How did the universe generate the first generation of black holes?” mused Dr. Thomas Connor, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
“This is one of the most pressing questions in astrophysics, and this singular object propels our quest for answers.”
Moreover, this research also sheds light on the origins of the jets of particles emitted by some black holes that approach the speed of light, as observed in RACS J0320-35.
“Jets like these are uncommon in quasars, suggesting that the accelerated growth of black holes may play a role in the formation of these jets,” the author remarked.
Their paper is set to be published in the Astrophysical Journal.
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Luca Idina et al. 2025. X-ray investigation of the possibility of Super Eddington accretion in a wireless loudsal of Z = 6.13. apjl 990, L56; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/aded0a
Recent Observations of the M87* Black Hole by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) – Eight Ground-Based Radio Telescopes (ALMA, APEX, Iram 30 m Telescope, James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, Lage Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano, Submillimeter Array Telescope) – Unveil a dynamic environment with varying polarization patterns near black holes.
The EHT images show that the magnetic field of M87* spiraled in one direction in 2017, settled in 2018, and reversed direction in 2021. Image credit: EHT collaboration.
Messier 87 is a vast elliptical galaxy situated approximately 53 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation.
This galaxy, also known as M87, houses the M87*, an ultra-massive black hole with a mass exceeding 6 billion solar masses.
In 2017, the EHT Collaboration detected a helical polarization pattern, indicating large-scale twisted magnetic structures, confirming long-held hypotheses about black hole interactions and their surrounding environments.
However, by 2018, the polarization nearly vanished. In 2021, a faint remnant began to spiral in the opposite direction.
Astrophysicists are now grappling with the pivotal question: Why?
“Black holes hold mysteries tightly, yet we continue to seek answers from their grasp,” stated Professor Avery Broderick, an astrophysicist at the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute.
“Our team at Waterloo is reconstructing images from EHT data and determining what we can confidently assert—distinguishing between realistic findings and potential instrumental artifacts.”
“We are at the forefront of deciphering how EHT images, particularly their evolution, can unveil astrophysical dramas unfolding in the most extreme gravitational conditions.”
Each year, EHT collaborations revisit M87*, capturing fleeting moments that reveal its ongoing evolution, providing deeper insights into its well-guarded secrets.
“What’s intriguing is that the ring sizes have remained consistent over the years, validating the shadows of black holes predicted by Einstein’s theory, while the polarization patterns change dramatically,” remarked Dr. Paul Thierde, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
“This indicates that the magnetized plasma swirling near the event horizon is not static but dynamic and complex, challenging theoretical models.”
The stability of M87*’s shadow serves as evidence that “black holes have no hair,” implying that a black hole is a simple geometric entity defined exclusively by mass, spin, or charge.
“This simplicity makes it an intriguing object of study within gravity, allowing for precise predictions. Other astrophysical phenomena seem secondary,” elaborated Professor Broderick.
“However, the surrounding environment can exhibit ‘hair,’ with magnetic fields being notable examples.”
“We have long understood what types of magnetic structures could exist, but now we believe there’s a rich diversity of configurations that can change rapidly, similar to human hairstyles.”
“These findings illustrate how EHT is maturing into a full-fledged scientific observatory that not only produces unprecedented images but also fosters a continuous and coherent understanding of black hole physics.”
“Each new observational campaign broadens our understanding, from the dynamics of plasma and magnetic fields to the role of black holes in the evolution of cosmic structures.”
“This is a concrete demonstration of the extraordinary scientific potential of this infrastructure.”
The survey results will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
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Kazunori Akiyama et al. (Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration). 2025. 2017-2021 Horizon scale variation of M87* from EHT observations. A&A in press; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202555855
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Illustration of two black holes merging and emitting gravitational waves throughout the universe
Maggie Chiang from the Simons Foundation
Stephen Hawking’s theorem, established over 50 years ago, has aided astronomers in detecting waves produced by extraordinarily powerful collisions as they traverse Earth at light speed, shedding light on the merging of black holes thanks to significant advancements in gravitational wave astronomy.
In 1971, Hawking introduced the Black Hole Area theorem, which posits that when two black holes combine, the resultant event horizon cannot be smaller than the combined size of the original black holes. This theorem aligns with the second law of thermodynamics, which asserts that the entropy of a system cannot decrease.
The merging of black holes warps the structure of the universe, generating tiny ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves that move through the cosmos at the speed of light. Five gravitational wave observatories on Earth search for waves that are 10,000 times smaller than an atom. These include two detectors in the US—LIGO, a laser interferometer, alongside Italy’s Virgo, Japan’s Kagura, and Germany’s GEO600.
The recent event, named GW250114, mirrors the event that first detected gravitational waves in 2015.
Now, the upgraded LIGO detector is three times more sensitive than it was in 2015, enabling the capture of waves from collisions with remarkable detail. This has allowed scientists to confirm Hawking’s theorem, proving that the size of the event horizon actually increases following a merger.
When black holes collide, they generate gravitational waves with overtones akin to the sound of a ringing bell, as noted by Laura Nuttall, a member of the LVK team at the University of Portsmouth, UK. Previously, these overtones were too rapid to be detected clearly enough to assess the area of the event horizon before and after a merger, a crucial requirement to test Hawking’s theory. The initial 2021 study supporting the theory confirmed it at a 95% confidence level, but the latest findings suggest an impressive 99.999% confidence.
Over the past ten years, scientists have witnessed approximately 300 black hole collisions while observing gravitational waves. However, none have been as strong as GW250114, which was twice as powerful as any previously detected gravitational wave.
“What we are discovering in our data has tremendous implications for understanding basic physics,” remarked a researcher. “We’re eager for nature to provide us with further astonishing revelations.”
Only LIGO was operational when GW250114’s waves reached Earth; other detectors in the LVK collaboration were not active. This did not affect the validation of Hawking’s theory but limited researchers’ ability to pinpoint the waves’ origins more precisely.
Future upgrades to LIGO and upcoming observatories are anticipated to enhance sensitivity, offering deeper insights into black hole physics, according to Ian Harry, also from the University of Portsmouth and part of the LVK team. “We may miss some events, but we will certainly capture similar phenomena again,” Harry expressed. “Perhaps with our next set of upgrades in 2028, we might witness something of this magnitude and gain deeper insights.”
These findings pave the way for future research into quantum gravity, a field where physicists aim to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics. Nuttall stated that the latest results indicate that both theories remain compatible, although inconsistencies are expected in future observations.
“At some point, discrepancies are likely to emerge, especially when close signals appear noisy as the detector’s sensitivity improves,” Nuttall explained.
Moreover, the recent data from LVK enabled scientists to confirm equations proposed by mathematician Leakir in the 1960s, which suggested that black holes could be described by two key metrics: mass and spin. Essentially, two black holes with identical mass and spin are mathematically indistinguishable. Observations from GW250114 have verified this assertion.
Physical Review Letters
doi: 10.1103/kw5g-d732
The Mystery of the Universe: Cheshire, England
Join a weekend with leading scientific minds. Unravel the mysteries of the universe in an engaging program that features a visit to the iconic Lovell telescope.
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Gravitational waves result from colliding black holes
Victor de Schwanberg/Science Photography Library
Researching the universe can be enhanced by AI created by Google DeepMind. With an algorithm capable of diminishing unwanted noise by as much as 100 times, the Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), equipped with laser interferometers, can identify specific black hole types that are affecting our separation.
LIGO aims to detect gravitational waves generated when entities like black holes spiral and collide. These waves traverse the universe at light speed, yet the spacetime fluctuations are minimal—10,000 times smaller than an atomic nucleus. Since its initial detection a decade ago, LIGO has recorded signals from nearly 100 black hole collisions.
The experiment comprises two U.S. observatories, each with two perpendicular arms measuring 4 km. A laser is directed down each arm and bounced off precise mirrors, where an interferometer compares the beams. As gravitational waves pass through, the lengths of the arms fluctuate slightly, and these changes are meticulously documented to help visualize the signals’ origins.
However, achieving such precision is challenging, as even distant ocean waves or clouds can interfere with measurements. This noise can overwhelm the signal, rendering some observations unfeasible. To counterbalance this noise and accurately adjust the mirrors and other equipment, numerous critical tweaks are essential.
Lana Adhikari from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena stated that his team has collaborated with DeepMind to innovate new AI methods. He mentions that even automating these adjustments can sometimes introduce noise. “That control noise has puzzled us for decades. All aspects in this space are hindered,” Adhikari explains. “How can you stabilize a mirror without creating noise? If left uncontrolled, the mirror tends to oscillate unpredictably.”
Laura Nuttall from the University of Portsmouth, UK, was involved in manually executing these adjustments at LIGO. “Changing one element causes a cascading effect; one change leads to another,” she points out. “It feels like an endless cycle of fine-tuning.”
DeepMind’s new AI, known as Deep Loop Shaping, aims to minimize noise by making up to 100 adjustments to LIGO’s mirrors. The AI is trained via simulations before being implemented in real-world scenarios, focusing on achieving two main objectives: limiting the number of adjustments it performs. “Over time, as it repeatedly operates, it’s like conducting hundreds or thousands of trials in a simulation. The controller learns what strategies work and identifies the best approach,” says Jonas Buchli from DeepMind.
Alberto Vecchio from the University of Birmingham, UK, expressed enthusiasm for the AI’s role in LIGO but mentioned that many challenges remain. The AI currently operates effectively for only an hour under real conditions, necessitating longer-term validation. Additionally, it’s only been applied to one control aspect, while many hundreds, if not thousands, of factors could assist in stabilizing the mirrors.
“This is clearly an initial step, but it’s certainly a fascinating one. There’s considerable scope for significant advancement,” Vecchio remarked.
If similar enhancements could be replicated elsewhere, it’s possible to detect medium-sized black holes—those around 1,000 times the mass of our sun—a category that has yet to see confirmed observations. Improvements are typically seen with the low-frequency gravitational waves generated by large bodies, where noise can obscure the signals.
“We’ve observed black holes up to 100 solar masses and more than a million solar masses in galaxies. What’s out there in between?” Vecchio pondered. “There’s a perception that black holes exist across a spectrum of masses, yet clear experimental evidence remains elusive.”
Nuttall commented that this new methodology could enhance identification of known black hole types. “This appears quite promising,” she stated. “I’m thrilled about this development.”
In February 2024, astronomers observed a peculiar phenomenon occurring in a galaxy located 300 light-years from Earth.
An enormous flare of X-ray light erupted from the ultra-massive black hole at its center, reaching brightness levels 10 times higher and emitting 100 times more energy than previously recorded.
Whatever unfolded in that distant black hole was nothing short of extraordinary.
After meticulously monitoring the situation for over a year, astronomers have come to realize they may have witnessed one of the universe’s most dramatic events.
Bright Light, Black Hole
According to the study, the flare observed in April 2025 could indicate that the black hole (dubbed Ansky) has begun to consume surrounding gas and dust.
This scenario may evoke the image of a colossal vacuum in the universe, but the reality is somewhat different.
While nothing can escape from the black hole’s grasp, this intense hold reaches only up to the event horizon.
Beyond that limit, gravity draws gas and dust towards the black hole, creating what are known as accretion disks.
Typically, these disks orbit quietly around black holes, as seen at the heart of our galaxy, but they lack excitement.
That changes when something disrupts the disk. Environments near black holes are incredibly extreme, so even minor turbulence can cause gas to overheat, producing a bright glow.
In certain instances, black holes transform into active galactic nuclei, gathering more dust and gas from their surroundings and funneling some towards the event horizon.
This resulting chaos leads to excessive heating of the gas, which shines brilliantly, overshadowing the stars in its host galaxy.
The Black Hole Awakens
Astronomers have observed shifts in black holes from one state to another, particularly noting those that were previously dormant now burning brightly.
This is when scientists, like Lorena Hernandez Garcia from Valparaiso University in Chile, first detected flares emanating from Ansky, initially suspecting a tidal disruption event.
“These eruptions typically correlate with interactions between compact objects like stars and other black holes, or dense rings of gas and dust circling the black holes,” Hernandez Garcia stated in BBC Science Focus.
If an object nears the event horizon, the extreme gravity can tear it apart, resulting in a brilliant flash as each fragment approaches the black hole.
However, Hernández-García notes that “Ansky does not exhibit typical signs of tidal disruption events seen in other systems. There’s no evidence of such chaotic disruption. While we can’t entirely rule out the possibility of stars being torn apart, it would certainly be an unusual case.”
As something falls towards a black hole’s event horizon, time appears to slow down and freeze from a distant observer’s perspective. – Photo credit: Getty
Instead, Hernández-García believes that Ansky’s unusual behavior offers a unique glimpse into a small black hole transitioning into an active galactic nucleus.
“We think we are witnessing galaxies undergoing the ‘on-switch.’ That central black hole is starting to feed again,” stated Hernandez Garcia.
If accurate, Ansky presents astronomers with an unparalleled opportunity to observe one of the universe’s most significant transformations.
Catching a Waking Black Hole
One challenge astronomers face in capturing this phenomenon is the need for the right telescope at the right place and time.
Fortunately, Ansky had been under scrutiny by astronomers. Previously, it was merely another quiet, unremarkable black hole that received little attention.
However, it falls within the range of the Zwicky Transient Facility, a telescope that scans the sky nightly, documenting the brightness and position of stars and galaxies, and monitoring changes.
In December 2019, the galaxy housing Ansky notably brightened. Hernández-García explains, “We observed an increase in optical brightness of approximately 20% over just six months. Since then, the brightness has remained above its original level until 2025.”
Subsequently, astronomers have been monitoring Ansky for changes, including with NASA’s rapid X-ray telescopes.
Initially, there were no X-ray signals, but in February 2024, a bright flare was detected emanating from the black hole.
What remains unclear is the possible connection between the two events.
“We still don’t know if the 2019 optical brighter burst and the 2024 X-ray flare are part of the same process—essentially the black hole ‘waking up’—or if they represent separate phenomena,” says Hernández-García.
Ansky provides significant insight into what occurs when a black hole awakens, but astronomers need to observe more such events to truly understand the dynamics at play.
If all goes well, it won’t be long until the powerful Vera Rubin Observatory scans the sky for signs of unusual activities in the cosmic depths.
With more eyes on the sky than ever before, astronomers can capture even more of these dormant giants as they stir from their long, deep slumber.
About Our Experts
Lorena Hernández-García specializes in ultra-massive black holes, focusing on their feeding habits and the impacts on the surrounding galaxy environments.
In early August, just before the Major Black Ops 7 Preview event in Los Angeles, Mike Ibara, the former Blizzard president and current Microsoft executive, described the Call of Duty franchise as “lazy”. In a post on X, the experienced executive asserted that EA’s upcoming Battlefield 6 will “bootstomp” this year, pushing the team to “better FPS games.” Furthermore, Ian Proulx of Splitgate 2 echoed similar sentiments during a Gamefest presentation two months ago, reinforcing the perception of the franchise as a target of industry criticism regarding its endless sequels.
This isn’t the only criticism faced by the brand over its 20-year history. Despite selling millions with each new release (Black Ops 6 was the top-selling game of 2024), many players are frustrated with predatory monetization, an abundance of in-game bugs, and recent issues with creating content within the game.
One thing is clear amidst these criticisms: there’s a lot happening with Call of Duty Black Ops 7. Releasing this November, Treyarch’s latest installment features heart-pounding campaigns starring Hollywood actors like Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Keenan Shapka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina). Players can enjoy up to four co-op modes and the return of the beloved twin-stick mini-game, Dead Ops Arcade. The new 20-player mode called Skirmish also promises a large dedicated map, wingsuits, and vehicles—just scratching the surface of what’s included.
The story intertwines Secret Wars, Psyops, and Tech Industry Paranoia… Black Ops 7. Photo: Activision
Following the success of last year’s Black Ops 6, Number 7 is somewhat of a spiritual successor to the beloved 2012 title, Black Ops II, featuring Ventimiglia as David Mason, the game’s resolute protagonist. Set in 2035, the game is packed with high-tech warfare, including a futuristic UI resembling augmented reality and a Boston Dynamics-style attack dog named DAWG. For the first time since Black Ops II, players can engage in the campaign with up to three friends.
Alongside the Black Ops narrative, the game incorporates themes of Secret Wars, Psyops, and Tech Industry Paranoia. The returning series villain, Raul Menendez, has engineered a new drug that induces hallucinations in its users. During a demo playthrough, the 405 highway in Los Angeles is depicted bending skyward like something out of a hot wheels truck, reminiscent of a moment from Batman: Arkham Knight. While players often speed through the campaign to reach multiplayer, the team has added an enticing new “endgame” feature, inspired possibly by MMORPGs. Completing the linear storyline grants access to a vast open-world map situated in the fictional city of Avalon, where players can utilize individualized abilities to unlock new loadouts and regularly updated tasks. “We’re redefining the campaign with Call of Duty,” states design director Kevin Drew.
Commuting to battles on the Wings… Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Photo: Activision
The new connected progression system allows players to earn XP by participating in the campaign, leveling up weapons, and advancing through the Battle Pass for the first time. “There’s been a lot of talk about connection,” mentions the production director. “It’s easy to jump into the campaign with friends. Solo, people might ask, ‘Why haven’t you played the Call of Duty Campaign yet?’ but playing with friends offers a whole different experience.”
Of course, quests in Black Ops 7 are designed to be bigger and bolder than their predecessors, including a Zombies mode that offers the largest round-based map ever created by the team. Inspired by the Tranzit Map from Black Ops II, the latest iteration of the Undead Shooting Fest diverges from more recent zombie installments where players often went solo. Now, teamwork is crucial as players use vehicles to engage hordes and face alternate versions of classic characters like Richtofen, Belinski, Masaki, and Dempsey.
Moreover, the team is reviving the much-loved Dead Ops Arcade—a classic twin-stick arcade shooter embedded within the zombies mode. It’s a passion project for the studio. “Dave King, our CTO, is incredibly passionate about it for various reasons,” shares Miller. “We have many team members who have been here for over a decade, contributing to the evolution of Dead Ops.”
As for the online experience, there are 16 multiplayer maps ready at launch, upgrading weaponry (including 16 all-new guns), and players can share their killer loadouts with friends—featuring the new Peacekeeper M1 Hybrid SMG/AR or a striking econ 12 shotgun. With the Omnimovement System from Black Ops 6, players can now wall jump and explore vertical battlescapes further. Among the new abilities, the Drone Chalmers option stands out, letting players deploy drones to track down enemies, harkening back to the attack dog in Call of Duty: World at War.
Is Black Ops 7 a response to those who’ve critiqued the series’ laziness? “I don’t consider it a double middle finger,” says Matt Sconce. “I come from the community. I’ve been part of it since previewing DLC for World at War back in 2007. Throughout my career, I’ve kept the players’ perspective in mind.”
While the annual Call of Duty release may not transform the industry or redefine the beloved genre, Black Ops 7’s inherent value cannot be overlooked. The evolving view on modern FPS will likely continue to resonate, irrespective of what Battlefield presents.
In a recent study, Professor Jonathan Tan, an astrophysicist from the University of Virginia and Chalmers Institute of Technology, suggests that the population III.1 supermassive star is the precursor to the ultra-high-massive black holes observed in the early universe. The intense high-energy photons emitted by the star ionized the surrounding hydrogen gas, creating a natural intergalactic medium that extended over millions of light-years. This process led to the formation of ultra-high massive black holes that caused a flash ionization, effectively ending the “dark age” of the universe.
An artist’s impression of the star field from population III that would have been visible hundreds of millions of years post-Big Bang. Image credits: noirlab/nsf/aura/J. da silva/SpaceEngine.
These black holes, residing at the centers of most large galaxies, including our Milky Way, typically possess masses millions or even billions of times greater than that of the Sun.
Their formation has sparked considerable debate, particularly with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope uncovering numerous such black holes located far away that date back to the universe’s early days.
Professor Tan’s theory, referred to as “Pop III.1,” posits that all supermassive black holes originate from the first stars, termed debris Population III.1 stars, which grow to enormous sizes due to energy from a dark matter annihilation process. This theory aligns with many of Webb’s latest discoveries.
In his publication, Tan presents another prediction that may illuminate our understanding of the universe’s origins.
“Our model indicates that the ultra-large star progenitors of black holes ionize the surrounding hydrogen gas extremely quickly, signaling their emergence with a bright flash that permeates all space,” stated Professor Tan.
“Notably, this additional stage of ionization occurs at a significantly faster rate than seen in typical galaxies, potentially addressing recent challenges and discrepancies in cosmology.”
“This was an unexpected connection we identified during the development of the POP III.1 model, but it could have substantial significance.”
“Professor Tan has crafted a sophisticated model that elucidates the two-stage process of star formation and ionization in the early universe,” commented Professor Richard Ellis, a distinguished observational cosmologist from the University of London.
“The initial star, created from a brief, brilliant flash of light, may have since vanished. Thus, what we observed with Webb could represent a subsequent phase. The universe continues to amaze us with its surprises.”
The rapper 50 Cent (born Curtis Jackson) became a household name in 2005. British classrooms were filled with teenagers sporting Jackson’s G-Unit attire, while his catchy tracks dominated the airwaves. His remarkable journey—from surviving being shot nine times to becoming one of the world’s biggest hip-hop stars—is the stuff of legends.
That year, 50 Cent sold over a million copies of his sophomore studio album, *The Massacre*, in just one week. To capitalize on this superstar’s success, his label Interscope Records devised a dual strategy: a Hollywood biopic (*Get Rich or Die Tryin’*) and a licensed video game, *50 Cent: Bulletproof*, both set for release by November 2005. “It feels like an action movie,” he remarked.
The game, developed by a British company previously known for the *Fight Club* tie-in, aimed to create a thrilling escape through the 128-bit era. Unfortunately, the project only lasted 11 months. “I remember arriving at the office at 7am and not leaving until around 11pm,” recalls game artist Hanlandawa. “We all lived on a KFC diet. 50 Cent became my obsession. I even read a doctor’s report of his shooting.”
Game designer Haydn Dalton added, “It’s amusing because this game revolves around guys from the hood, yet here I am—a white guy from northwest England—writing the in-game dialogue.”
Take a photo first and ask questions later… Photo: THQ
As of November 20th, this year, 50 Cent finds himself embroiled in a shadowy underworld filled with dangerous terrorists, vicious biker gangs, and mobsters. He navigates the cityscape—shooting first and asking questions later—tracking down the individuals who shot him and aiding his G-Unit crew (including Tony Yayo, Young Buck, and Lloyd Banks).
Similar to the *A-Team*, each G-Unit member provides unique skills (Yayo as the explosives expert, Banks as the lock-pick). The script, penned by *Sopranos* writer Terrence Winter, features cinematic cutscenes where 50 Cent interacts with the corrupt Detective McVicar, adding to the game’s intensity.
He voices a corrupt cop, spurred on by Madcap Eminem, who constantly demands cash to fund his children’s expensive karate lessons. Accompanying the troubled McVicar is Dr. Dre, providing the voice for a hardened arms dealer, who cryptically remarks “it’s serious shit” every time 50 Cent purchases a rocket launcher. The game is further enhanced by a soundtrack filled with licensed 50 Cent tracks, pushing players to immerse themselves in the action while songs like *Wanksta* play in the background.
“We were fortunate because 50 Cent felt like more than just a rapper—he felt like a superhero,” explains game director David Broadhurst. “The goal was to make him the Black James Bond.” However, Broadhurst acknowledges that the UK development team missed out on some of the glamour and sheen of the project. “Vivendi kept us somewhat distanced from both 50 Cent and G-Unit. All audio was sent to us. I remember how invested 50 was in vitamin water, which meant I had to include drinks in the game as purchasable items.”
50 Cent concept art: Bulletproof. Photo: Vivendi Universal Games
Randhawa recalls unique requests too, such as G-Unit member Tony Yayo, who constantly sought revisions to perfect his character’s appearance. “I knew I did a good job on Yayo,” laughs Randhawa. “The executive producer even remarked that other G-Unit members thought I completely captured Yayo’s distinct look!”
According to Dalton, the initial vision for *50 Cent: Bulletproof* leaned toward an open-world format similar to *Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas*. Early iterations allowed 50 to navigate the subway system to traverse New York City, but tight deadlines necessitated a more straightforward experience. Dalton elaborated, “One of our concepts was to have 50 managing street-level employees, raising drug funds for him.”
Unlike other rap-themed games such as the *Def Jam Fighting* series, which often portrayed rappers as adversaries, *Bulletproof* presented 50 Cent in a hero’s role. “It was refreshing to see a project where rappers were depicted as complete heroes instead of anti-heroes,” commented Sha Money XL, a former executive producer at G-Unit Records.
“If I filmed a G-Unit in 2005, we were ready to roll.” Photo: Vivendi Universal Games
Sha Money XL led the soundtrack for *50 Cent: Bulletproof*, acknowledging that the game’s title could easily be perceived as inciting violence by some of 50 Cent’s adversaries. “Perhaps some wanted to test whether 50 Cent was genuinely bulletproof. But if they were filming G-Unit in 2005, we were prepared to shoot.”
This polarizing aspect likely explains the mixed critical reception of *50 Cent: Bulletproof*. The game garnered a mere 52% score on Metacritic, with reviewers pointing to its cumbersome aiming system. Broadhurst believes there was an underlying bias against productions led by black heroes.
“It was evident that many reviewers didn’t fully engage with *Bulletproof*,” Broadhurst remarked. “Maybe they had issues with the black hero who was associated with licensed games or had ties to the drug trade. I’m still surprised that when people picked it up, they found it surprisingly enjoyable.”
Plans for a direct sequel to *Bulletproof*, focused on urban conflict and G-Unit’s survival in America amidst a Civil War backdrop, were scrapped. However, *50 Cent: Bulletproof* paved the way for the 2009 sequel, *50 Cent: Blood on the Sand*, which has since gained a reputation as an underrated title.
These two titles featuring 50 Cent did not spark a wave of hip-hop video games. Dalton reflects, “50 Cent was truly the last global mainstream rap superstar. Despite our game generating significant revenue, the genre hasn’t produced a clear successor in terms of rap games.”
A complicated licensing agreement makes a remaster of 50 Cent unlikely. However, for those looking to relive 2005, securing an original copy on eBay is a must.
Dalton concludes, “Yes, our game was sprung together quickly, but I have no regrets. If you check Reddit, you’ll find a nostalgic community reminiscing about what we created. I doubt a Drake game would ever reach the same popularity, especially if it lacked the grit of earlier titles.”
Astronomers have been monitoring the largest black holes observed in space thus far.
Through a combination of two distinct measurement techniques, researchers have recently identified that these colossal black holes possess nearly 10,000 times the mass of the ultra-massive black holes at the center of our galaxy.
This colossal black hole is situated five billion light-years from Earth, at the core of the Cosmic Horseshoe, one of the largest known galaxies. This massive galaxy seems to gather all the galaxies in its vicinity, meaning both it and its black hole have reached their ultimate sizes.
The black hole itself weighs an astonishing 36 billion times the mass of our sun.
The discovery is particularly remarkable given that these black holes are inactive, lacking the typical surrounding luminous dusty disc.
Instead, a recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society utilized a combination of two established methods to ascertain the size of this mega black hole.
“The ‘golden’ method generally depends on the kinematics of stars, meaning we measure how the stars move within the galaxy,” noted Carlos Mello in an interview with BBC Science Focus. He is a PhD student at a federal university in Brazil that led the research.
The speed of stars situated at the center of a galaxy correlates closely with the mass of its supermassive black hole. Scientists report that these stars are moving at astonishing velocities, around 400 kilometers (249 miles) per second, indicating an extraordinarily large black hole.
“However, this technique is most efficient for nearby galaxies where telescopes can better resolve the area surrounding the black hole,” Mello explained.
Given that the Cosmic Horseshoe is five billion light-years away, astronomers also employed a second method that utilizes the gravitational lensing effect of galaxies.
The Cosmic Horseshoe is known for the nearly perfect ring of light formed by a gravitational lens that bends light from a background galaxy – Credit: NASA/ESA
Gravitational lenses occur when light from a distant galaxy passes by a massive “lens” object, in this case, the black hole within the Cosmic Horseshoe. The gravity from this “lens” distorts the incoming light much like a magnifying glass, amplifying the light from the background galaxy while altering its appearance.
Astronomers can utilize this distortion to gauge the mass of the lensing object.
“The Cosmic Horseshoe is exceptional because it enables us to leverage both of these powerful methods simultaneously. This gives me greater confidence in the measurements of the black hole and its mass,” Mello remarked.
Both the galaxy and its black hole have achieved immense scales by merging with neighboring galaxies. This is the typical growth process for galaxies over time; ultimately, no surrounding galaxies can merge without reaching significant mass increases.
The Cosmic Horseshoe has reached this advanced stage, existing within a bubble of relatively few bright galaxies nearby.
“This discovery provides a unique insight into the culmination of galaxy and black hole formation,” Mello stated. “By examining this system, we can enhance our understanding of how other galaxies and their ultra-massive black holes evolve over cosmic time.”
About Our Experts
Carlos Mello is a doctoral student at a Federal University in Brazil.
In a new paper published in the journal Iscience, astrophysicists at the University of Fudan have explored the potential for sending nanocrafts from Earth to black holes located 20-25 light years away. This mission aims to investigate the properties of strong gravitational fields and the fundamental aspects of physics.
Black holes represent the strongest gravitational fields known in the universe and serve as ideal laboratories for testing Einstein’s general theory of relativity under extreme conditions. Professor Bambi discusses the speculative nature and challenges of launching small spacecraft to the nearest black hole, yet emphasizes that it remains a plausible endeavor. Image credit: Cosimo Bambi, doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113142.
“While we lack the necessary technology today, it may be feasible in 20 or 30 years,” stated Professor Cosimo Bambi, an astrophysicist and black hole specialist at the University of Fudan.
“Two significant challenges lie ahead: identifying a nearby black hole and developing a probe that can survive the journey.”
Currently, the closest recognized black hole to Earth is Gaia BH1, which was discovered in September 2022 and is located 1,560 light-years away.
However, it is anticipated that many undiscovered black holes may exist closer to Earth.
Simple estimations suggest that, despite significant uncertainties, the closest black hole could potentially be within only 20-25 light years.
“Our understanding of stellar evolution implies that black holes might be hidden just 20 to 25 light years from Earth, but detecting them is not straightforward,” noted Professor Bambi.
“Since black holes do not emit or reflect light, they are nearly invisible to telescopes.”
“Scientists typically rely on observing nearby stars and their interactions with light to identify and study these elusive objects.”
“New methods have been developed for detecting black holes, and I believe it is reasonable to expect the discovery of something nearby within the next decade.”
Once a target is located, the subsequent challenge will be reaching it.
Traditional spacecraft powered by chemical fuels lack the efficiency needed for such long journeys.
Professor Bambi suggests nanocraft as a promising solution—tiny probes consisting of microchips and light sails.
Lasers from Earth would propel the sails using photons, accelerating the craft to one-third the speed of light.
“At that speed, a craft could arrive at a black hole 20 to 25 light years away within about 70 years,” he explained.
“The data collected would then take roughly another 20 years to return to Earth, leading to a total mission duration of approximately 80-100 years.”
“When the craft nears a black hole, researchers could conduct experiments to answer some of the most pivotal questions in physics.”
“Does a black hole truly possess an event horizon? Can light escape the gravitational pull beyond that point?”
“Do the laws of physics alter in proximity to black holes?”
“Is Einstein’s general theory of relativity upheld in the universe’s most extreme conditions?”
“The laser system alone could cost 1 trillion euros, and currently, we lack the technology to fabricate nanocrafts,” Professor Bambi stated.
“Nevertheless, in 30 years, those costs might decrease, and technological advancements could align with these ambitious concepts.”
“While it may sound quite outlandish and resembles science fiction, past disbeliefs—like the detection of weak gravitational waves or imaging black hole shadows—have been proven wrong over time.”
____
Cosimo Bambi. Interstellar missions to test astrophysical black holes. Iscience. Published online on August 7th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.113142
Could the gravitational wave signal be from a black hole or something more peculiar?
Titoonz / Alamy
Exotic viscous stars might emulate signals from black holes, mirroring the ripples in spacetime.
Since 2015, scientists have been uncovering the universe’s secrets by monitoring both light waves and gravitational waves, the ripples in the cosmos. Jaime Redondo-Yuste from the Neals Bohr Institute in Denmark and his team found that they can reflect gravitational waves, similar to light waves, but only from unusually viscous celestial objects.
The researchers began exploring the possibility of creating a gravitational wave mirror. While earlier studies hinted at its feasibility, developing equations that adhere to physical laws proved challenging. They eventually understood that reflectors don’t need to be flat.
“We can have a spherical mirror, and we need stars,” explains Redondo-Yuste. However, these stars must possess an extraordinarily high viscosity akin to molasses. Their calculations indicated that such stars could indeed reflect gravitational waves, as they are too rigid to be disturbed by passing waves.
Daniel Kennefick from the University of Arkansas highlights that this behavior is rare since most materials are transparent to gravitational waves, just as glass is to light. “Even when we are very near sources of powerful gravitational waves, they pass through us without any noticeable effect,” he remarks.
In addition to their strangeness, stars capable of deflecting gravitational waves must be compact and on the brink of collapsing into black holes. Redondo-Yuste notes that black holes themselves are very viscous. Therefore, when gravitational wave signals reach Earth, other highly viscous objects could be misidentified as black holes, with subtle differences in their signals. For instance, collisions between viscous stars and black holes would yield slightly distinct gravitational wave signatures due to tidal influences.
Researchers have previously detected celestial bodies believed to have heightened viscosity, such as extremely hot neutron stars formed from the merger of others. However, it’s still uncertain whether these stars possess sufficient viscosity to align with the team’s mathematical model, according to Paolopani from the University of Sapienza in Rome, Italy.
He suggests that forthcoming gravitational wave detectors will enhance our understanding of the viscosity of known objects and assist in discovering new ones. “This serves as a prelude to what we should be searching for,” Kennefick says.
To date, observational data hasn’t provided strong evidence for classifying what scientists identify as a black hole as an exotic star. All three researchers agree that the likelihood of observing these viscous stars has been minimal thus far.
“However, it’s our responsibility to continue these investigations,” insists Redondo-Yuste. “Only in this way can we compile a complete catalog of the entities populating our universe.”
Spectroscopy enables astronomers to detect traces of matter in stars, galaxies, and other cosmic entities. Black holes consume dust and encounter various phenomena around them; as material spirals into a black hole, it compresses and heats up. Stephen Finkelstein, a co-author and professor of astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that all of this can be observed through spectroscopy.
“We’re searching for these signatures of extremely fast gas,” Finkelstein explained. “We’re discussing speeds of 1,000, 2,000, and at times even 3,000 kilometers per second. There’s nothing else in the universe that moves this quickly, so we can confirm it must be the gas surrounding a black hole.”
Scientists have pinpointed a potential distant black hole candidate, which stands as the oldest candidate confirmed via spectroscopy, he added.
Researchers also find galaxies containing new black holes to be intriguing discoveries. According to Taylor, these galaxies belong to a class known as “Little Red Dots.”
While not much information is available about Little Red Dots, they were first detected by the James Webb Space Telescope. Some have been found relatively close by, but Finkelstein indicated that they are likely more prevalent in the early universe.
Investigating the Capers-Lrd-Z9 Galaxy may offer insights into the rarity of red dots and what defines their unique coloration, researchers noted. It could also shed light on the growth of these ancient black holes during the universe’s formative stages.
In subsequent studies, researchers aim to locate more black holes in the distant cosmos.
“We’re just going to examine a very limited section of the sky using the James Webb Space Telescope,” Finkelstein stated. “If we discover one thing, there ought to be more.”
Astronomers have discovered and quantified the largest black hole ever found. This colossal black hole approaches the theoretical maximum size allowable in the universe and is approximately 10,000 times the mass of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole located at the center of the Milky Way.
This Hubble image features a horseshoe-shaped gravity lens (from center to right). Behind it is a blue galaxy, distorted into a horseshoe-shaped ring by the space-time distortion caused by the massive orange galaxies in the foreground. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble.
The newly identified ultramassive black hole resides in the Space Horseshoe Gravity Lens System, which is among the largest known strong gravitational lenses.
This lens system, referred to as SDSS J1148+1930 and CSWA 1, lies 5 billion light years away in the Leo constellation.
“Typically, mass measurements of black holes in such distant systems can only be done when they are active,” remarks PhD Carlos Melo from Universidade Federativa do Rio Grande do Sul.
“However, these estimates based on accretion are often fraught with significant uncertainty.”
“Our method integrates strong gravitational lenses with stellar dynamics to yield more direct and reliable measurements, even in these distant systems.”
“The black holes we discovered rank among the top 10 largest black holes known, possibly even the largest,” adds Professor Thomas Collett from the University of Portsmouth.
“Most existing mass measurements for black holes are indirect and come with high uncertainties, so I can’t definitively say which one is the largest. But our new method provides much greater confidence in the mass of this black hole.”
The research team employed a synergy of gravitational lenses and stellar motions to locate the space horseshoe-shaped black holes.
This technique is considered the gold standard for black hole mass measurement, but galaxies are often too small in the sky to resolve areas containing these supermassive black holes, limiting effectiveness in distant contexts.
“The inclusion of a gravitational lens allowed us to explore further into the cosmos,” noted Professor Collett.
“We observed the influence of a black hole in two specific ways: it alters the path light takes as it navigates through the black hole, and stars in the galaxy’s core are observed moving incredibly fast (almost 400 km/s).”
“By correlating these two measurements, we can confidently establish the black hole’s authenticity.”
“This discovery pertains to a ‘dormant’ black hole, which does not actively consume material at the time of observation,” Melo explained.
“The detection relied solely on its immense gravitational pull and its effects on surrounding matter.”
“What’s particularly thrilling is that this method enables us to identify and gauge the masses of these elusive supermassive black holes across the universe, even when they lie completely dormant.”
An intriguing aspect of the Cosmic Horseshoe system is that its host galaxy is classified as a fossil group.
Fossil groups represent the final phase of the universe’s most colossal gravitationally-bound structures, formed from the collapse of a single, large galaxy devoid of bright companions.
“It is plausible that the supermassive black holes originally found in the companion galaxy contributed to the formation of the supermassive black holes we have identified,” Professor Collett noted.
“Thus, we can observe both the conclusion of galaxy formation and the cessation of black hole growth.”
The team’s paper was published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
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Carlos R Melo-Carneiro et al. 2025. We are pleased to announce the discovery of a 36 billion solar-mass black hole at the core of the Cosmic Horseshoe Gravity Lens. MNRAS 541(4): 2853-2871; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf1036
Scientists have discovered an extraordinarily massive black hole billions of light years away
Igorzh/Shutterstock
A colossal black hole, located in a galaxy five billion light years away, boasts a mass over 10,000 times greater than the ultra-massive black hole found at the center of the Milky Way, and about 360 times greater than that of our Sun.
“This is likely the largest black hole in the universe,” states Thomas Collett from the University of Portsmouth, UK. “It’s equivalent to the mass of an entire small galaxy condensed into one singularity.”
This supermassive black hole is situated approximately five billion light years away, residing in one of the most well-known galaxies, referred to as the Space Horseshoe. Space Horseshoes serve as the largest known galaxy lenses, capable of bending light from objects situated behind them due to their immense gravitational forces. Previous research indicated that such enormous black holes might exist in the center of this galaxy, though pinpointing their exact mass has proven challenging for scientists.
To accurately determine the mass of the black hole, Collett and his team analyzed the orbital velocity of a nearby star, which directly correlates to the black hole’s mass. Additionally, they assessed how much light is distorted by the gravitational influence of the black hole, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. “Combining these two measurements allowed us to yield a highly confident estimation,” says Collett.
The mass of this black hole is remarkably large, aligning with Collett’s team’s prior investigations. Their research focuses on mapping the distribution of dark matter in the Galaxy, utilizing data gathered from observed light. They found that a successful model was only achievable with the inclusion of a supermassive black hole at the center of the universe’s horseshoe.
“The only time I started to get a good model was when I began considering black holes with incredibly high masses,” remarks Collett.
The horseshoe galaxy is theorized to be a ‘fossil group’ galaxy. This type of stellar system has absorbed all of its neighboring galaxies, a behavior that helps clarify the phenomenon of its black hole’s formidable size.
Yet, one enigmatic aspect persists. The black hole appears to have ceased growing and is currently dormant. “For it to expand, it must have been connected to the entire universe at some stage. It’s curious that it’s inactive at this moment,” Collett adds. “A process must have contributed to the black hole’s growth before it eventually plateaued.”
Conceptual image of a spacecraft navigating near a black hole
Liuzishan/Getty Images
An interstellar spacecraft designed to explore a black hole could transmit data back to Earth in roughly 100 years.
Cosimo Bambi from the University of Hudang in Shanghai has devised a framework for such missions utilizing technologies projected to be available within the next 20 to 30 years.
By approaching a black hole, we can validate Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity and uncover the behavior of fundamental physical constants in extreme gravitational fields.
The nearest well-known black hole is approximately 1500 light years away. However, within our Milky Way galaxy, there is estimated to be one black hole for every 100 ordinary stars. This suggests a significant likelihood of locating a black hole within 20 to 25 light years, says Bambi.
Identifying a black hole poses challenges, as these entities do not emit light; astronomers must infer their existence by observing their gravitational influence on surrounding stars.
Reaching a black hole within 25 light years of our solar system will require advanced technological developments, but according to Bambi, “it’s achievable.” Within a century, spacecraft could be minuscule, featuring sails that cover 10 square meters and propelled by light. Such crafts could theoretically accelerate to about one-third the speed of light through pulses from high-powered lasers.
“Currently, light sails and nanocrafts appear to be the most viable options for interstellar travel since they can achieve speeds approaching that of light,” Bambi states. However, he estimates that the power required for an effective laser system could reach approximately 1 trillion euros today.
To validate predictions concerning general relativity, it may be necessary to dispatch two miniature spacecraft or release a secondary probe as the primary nanocraft nears a black hole. The secondary craft would venture closer to the black hole, while the primary craft remains at a safe distance, gathering data and relaying it back to Earth.
Gerlan Lewis from the University of Sydney acknowledges that while the challenges are significant, the proposal is far from impossible.
However, the extensive time frame for the proposed mission introduces a possibility that nanocrafts could become outdated by the time they reach their destination. Lewis remarks, “Considering 100 years of technological advancement, can we truly predict what kind of propulsion system might exist then?”
“A mission to black holes would likely resemble this proposal, akin to how we might imagine the advancements of the 20th century, 500 years in the past,” he adds.
Lewis points out that Bambi’s plans do not address how to decelerate the nanocrafts upon arrival at the black hole. Bambi suggests that the simplest approach is to not slow the vehicle at all, but rather deploy a probe to transmit data back to the main craft for Earth delivery.
“In such scenarios, the probes won’t stop around the black hole; they will merely pass by. Some may be drawn into the black hole, which should provide sufficient data to analyze the black hole’s gravitational field,” he explains.
Sam Baron at the University of Melbourne describes Bambi’s framework as one of the most “speculative” research papers he has encountered, but notes that a century ago, the construction of the Large Hadron Collider would have seemed like science fiction.
“I believe utilizing small-scale technologies is likely the way forward,” he observes. “The question remains whether we can indeed engineer something that meets all the criteria outlined in this paper.”
Bambi emphasizes that human beings cannot personally venture to black holes due to the extreme accelerative forces—around 10,000 g—that nanocraft would need to endure. “Unless we discover a wormhole in the fabric of space-time to provide a shortcut,” he notes.
“We really need a nearby wormhole like in the movie Interstellar” to facilitate human missions,” he concludes. “Unfortunately, my assessment is that wormholes are purely theoretical at this point.”
Astronomy Hub: Chile
Discover the astronomical wonders of Chile. Explore some of the most advanced observatories in the world and enjoy breathtaking views of the night sky from one of the clearest locations on Earth.
Utilizes data from 10m space-based wireless telescopes, including Radioastron. Astronomers have formed a network of 27 ground observation stations focused on OJ 287, a galaxy approximately 5 billion light-years distant from the Cancer constellations.
This image of OJ 287 reveals the sharply curved ribbon-like structure of the plasma jet emitted from its center. Image credits: Efthalia Traianou / Heidelberg University / IWR.
“Among the different types of active galactic nuclei, BL Lacertae (BL LAC) objects are notable for their rapid, large-amplitude variability and significant polarization across multiple wavelengths due to relativistic jets aligned closely with our line of sight.”
“A standout example of this subclass is OJ 287, characterized by a redshift of z = 0.306.”
Optical observations of OJ 287 have yielded an extensive light curve extending back to the 1880s, covering nearly 150 years.
This comprehensive dataset has uncovered periodic brightness variations, featuring marked 60-year cycles and notable high-brightness flares with recurrent double peaks occurring approximately every 12 years.
These periodic changes can be attributed to the presence of a binary supermassive black hole system, where secondary supermassive black holes follow eccentric precession paths around the more massive primary.
“The level of detail in the new images allows us to see the structure of the OJ 287 Galaxy like never before,” stated Dr. Traianou.
“The images penetrate deep into the galaxy’s center, revealing the jet’s sharply curved ribbon-like structure.”
“This also provides new insights into the composition and dynamics of plasma jets.”
“Certain regions exceed temperatures of 10 trillion Kelvin, indicating the release of extreme energy and movement near the black hole.”
Astronomers have also monitored the development, dispersion, and interactions of new shock waves along the jet, linking them to energies in the range of trillions of electron volts from rare gamma-ray observations made in 2017.
Using Radioastron and 27 terrestrial observatories, they captured images of OJ 287 across the radio spectrum.
The imaging relies on measurement techniques that utilize overlapping waves related to the properties of light waves.
“Interference measurement images bolster the hypothesis that a binary supermassive black hole resides within OJ 287,” the researchers commented.
“This also offers critical insights on how these black holes influence the shape and direction of the emitted plasma jet.”
“These unique characteristics position the galaxy as an ideal candidate for further studies on black hole mergers and associated gravitational waves.”
Survey results will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
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E. Traianou et al. 2025. Reveal ribbon-like jets on OJ 287 via Radioastron. A&A 700, A16; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202554929
Researchers have identified a newly found intermediate mass black hole designated NGC 6099 HLX-1, situated in a dense star cluster at the edge of the elliptical galaxy NGC 6099, nearly 40,000 light-years from the galaxy’s core.
X-ray and infrared imagery of NGC 6099 HLX-1. Image credits: NASA/CXC/Inst. Astronomy, Taiwan / YC Chang / ESA / STSCI / HST / J. Depasquale.
NGC 6099 is roughly 450 million light-years distant from the constellation Hercules.
Astronomers first detected an unusual X-ray source in a photo of the galaxy captured by NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory in 2009.
This source has since been studied further with ESA’s XMM-Newton Space Observatory.
“X-ray sources exhibiting such high luminosity are uncommon outside a galaxy’s nucleus and can be significant indicators for locating elusive central black holes,” states Dr. Yi-chi Chang, an astronomer at the National Tsing Hua University.
“These objects bridge a critical gap in the understanding of black holes, linking stellar mass black holes and supermassive black holes.”
The X-ray emissions from NGC 6099 HLX-1 reach a temperature of 3 million degrees, which aligns with events of tidal disruption.
Utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers discovered signs of a small cluster of stars encircling the black hole.
This cluster feasts on matter as the stars are densely grouped, just a few months away (approximately 500 billion miles).
The intriguing intermediate mass black hole peaked in brightness in 2012, after which its luminosity steadily decreased until 2023.
However, the optical and X-ray observations across this timeframe do not align, complicating interpretation.
The black hole may have disrupted captured stars, creating a plasma disk that exhibits variability, or it might have birthed a disk that flickers as gas spirals inward.
“If an intermediate mass black hole is consuming a star, how long does it take to digest the gas?” questions Dr. Roberto Soria, an astronomer from the National Institute of Astrophysics in Italy.
“In 2009, HLX-1 was relatively bright. By 2012, it was approximately 100 times brighter, but then its brightness declined again.”
. “Now, we need to observe and see if it enters multiple cycles and identify any peaks in activity.
The researchers stress the importance of examining central mass black holes to reveal the origins of larger supermassive black holes.
Two alternative theories are suggested. One posits that large galaxies grow by merging with other substantial galaxies, positioning intermediate mass black holes as components that help formulate even larger black holes. Intermediate mass black holes in galactic centers also expand during these collisions.
Hubble’s observations indicated a correlation: the larger the galaxy, the larger the black holes residing within. One fresh insight from this discovery suggests that galaxies may host intermediate mass black holes, existing within the halos of galaxies without necessarily spiraling toward the center.
Another theory suggests that gas clouds in primordial dark matter halos might collapse directly into supermassive black holes without first forming stars.
Observations indicating Webb’s distant black holes often appear disproportionately large compared to their host galaxies lend support to this hypothesis.
However, since smaller sizes are elusive, there may exist an observational bias toward detecting very large black holes in the early universe.
In truth, there’s considerable diversity in the methods by which black holes are generated in our dynamic universe.
Ultra-massive black holes collapsing within dark matter may evolve distinctly from those within dwarf galaxies, where accretion could be the primary growth mechanism.
“If fortune favors you, you might spot a wandering black hole suddenly brightening in X-rays due to a tidal disruption event,” Dr. Soria remarked.
“Conducting statistical studies will elucidate the frequency of these intermediate mass black holes, how often they consume stars, and the mechanisms by which galaxies have expanded through the amalgamation of smaller galaxies.”
Survey findings were published in the Astrophysical Journal.
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Yi-chi Chang et al. 2025. Multi-wavelength studies of high-light X-ray sources near NGC6099: A powerful IMBH candidate. APJ 983, 109; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adbbee
ANania Williams is Genress, known to some for their comedic TikTok videos and to others as the host of Gader, a viral show focusing on queer culture, history, and current events. Their interview with New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani gained significant attention, and Williams has also made an impact through performance art, including open icons like Chapel Lawn and Bob the Drug Queen, and various roles in musical theatre such as Laura in Kinky Boots and Dominique in Lucky Stiff.
For years, Williams has crafted a creative universe all their own. At just 25, this gender non-conforming Black artist employs their/her pronouns and has cultivated a strong social media presence with over 2.8 million followers. They are carving a niche for themselves outside the traditional binary. In their upcoming project, Williams will star in the new musical Saturday Church at the New York Theatre Workshop, debuting on August 27th. The production explores the sanctuary for LGBTQ+ youth. “It’s a musical that captures a unique atmosphere,” Williams remarked. “It embodies a strange, black joy and conveys a beautiful message.”
Williams embraces another role in their burgeoning theatre career as a trans woman. “The more I embraced my transition, the more positive I felt,” they shared. “It was empowering to inhabit spaces where I could truly be myself.” Their talent and charisma make their ascent seem almost predestined. As they juggle various projects, navigating their extensive future and the complexities of being an online presence remains an ongoing challenge.
Growing Up
Growing up in Davenport, Iowa, a town of about 100,000 in the industrial Midwest, posed its own challenges for Williams. They faced bullying at school for “having a girl’s name,” and their family life was marked by turbulence, including abuse and neglect. However, life in the Midwest also planted the seeds for their artistic aspirations. As a child, they sang in the church choir and later joined the show choir, inspired by their sister.
Williams pursued a Musical Theatre Program at Emerson College in Boston. This period became pivotal, allowing them to reflect on their identity and desires. Still, the world of musical theatre presented its own binaries and constraints. As someone who identifies outside traditional gender norms and as a Black individual, Williams felt restricted. “I thought, ‘It feels forbidden to exist beyond the gender binary,’ and simultaneously to be Black,” Williams recalled.
Even as Williams sought to carve their path, they encountered resistance from professors. “They kept questioning why I gravitated toward ‘girl’s songs.’ I tried to explain, but it fell flat,” Williams shared.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Williams returned to their hometown and, like many, awaited a return to normalcy. The quarantine period prompted significant reflection and helped them fully acknowledge their gender identity. “I had to confront some truths, like, ‘Yes, I’m different. Yes, I might be gender non-conforming.’ It spiraled from there,” they recounted.
Around the same time, they began creating content on TikTok, quickly gaining recognition for their humorous rants during late-night walks. Much of their content served as spontaneous commentary on topics including religion and personal relationships. In 2022, they began discussing their gender identity more openly, sharing videos about their makeup and drag routines.
Reflecting on that time evokes mixed emotions for Williams. On one hand, they cherish the growth they experienced alongside a loyal audience. “My audience has been with me through my evolution,” they expressed. “They watched me put on makeup for the first time or try on my first wig. Those supporters motivate me to continue, even as I sometimes wish to revert to the earlier version of myself.”
The Rise of Gader
The nature of their content has continually evolved. In 2024, Williams became the host of Gader, a show created by Amelia Montooth on the company’s mutual media platform. The show quizzes various guests on queer culture to determine if they exhibit “straight, homophobic” tendencies, with questions about “lipstick lesbians” that assess guest knowledge of gay icons. In many instances, Williams learns alongside participants in real time. “I didn’t even know who Sue Bird was, and I was being schooled by the lesbians on the street.”
The show creates a comedic environment intended to educate audiences. “We weave fascinating histories and cultures into accessible questions and snippets, ensuring a relaxed atmosphere for learning,” Williams explained. “We provide facts and context, urging viewers to care about these narratives.”
Initially, early versions of the show featured Williams interacting with strangers on the street, but it has since hosted many public figures and celebrities, including Vivienne Jenna Wilson, the daughter of singer Lucy Dux, Rene Rapp, and billionaire Elon Musk. A highlight was having progressive NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani as one of their guests, who generated buzz as one of the first politicians to appear on the show. Mamdani surprised attendees by succeeding in a challenge at a popular lesbian bar in Manhattan.
“He was so open and engaging throughout,” Williams noted. “We educated the younger audience about who he is, and he spoke about his vision,” they added. “It feels rewarding to contribute to the contemporary discourse in this way, knowing we’re making an impact.”
Williams’ journey hasn’t been without challenges, facing harsh criticism as they have become more vocal about their transition. “People are trying to categorize aspects like fashion, makeup, and hair, as if I must adhere to certain stereotypes,” Williams said, referring to online trolls. “While I hope society is becoming more accustomed to the presence of trans individuals, I feel there’s still a narrow, stereotypical vision of what trans identities should look like.”
Yet, Williams has managed to maintain genuine connections, alongside the trials of their journey. They are supported by family and childhood friends, a partner, and acquaintances from TikTok. Outside content creation, they indulge in hobbies like baking and gaming, steering clear of the pressures to monetize their life. “I was working on a birthday cake for a friend later that night,” Williams laughed. “I can recall the color but not the flavor—either red velvet or strawberry!”
The twin detectors of the NSF’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting the highest composite mass recorded to date and the merger of two black holes. This event, identified as GW231123 and discovered on November 23, 2023, produced a final black hole with a mass over 225 times that of the Sun.
GW231123 An infographic detailing the merger of black holes. Image credits: Simona J. Miller/Caltech.
LIGO made history in 2015 with the first direct detection of gravitational waves, the ripples in spacetime.
In that instance, the waves were generated by the merger of black holes, culminating in a black hole with a mass 62 times that of our Sun.
The signal was simultaneously detected by LIGO’s twin detectors located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington.
Since then, the LIGO team has collaborated with partners from Italy’s Virgo detectors and Japan’s KAGRA to create the LVK collaboration.
These detectors have collectively observed over 200 black hole mergers during their fourth observational run since starting in 2015.
Previously, the largest black hole merger recorded was in 2021 during the event GW190521, which had a total mass of 140 times that of the Sun.
During the GW231123 event, a black hole with a mass of 225 was formed by merging two black holes, one approximately 100 times and the other 140 times the mass of the Sun.
This discovery places it in a rare category known as intermediate mass black holes, which are heavier than those resulting from star collapses but significantly lighter than the supermassive black holes found at the centers of galaxies.
In addition to their substantial mass, these merged black holes exhibited rapid rotation.
“This is the largest black hole binary we’ve observed in gravitational waves and poses a significant challenge to our understanding of black hole formation,” stated Dr. Mark Hannam, an astrophysicist at Cardiff University and a member of the LVK collaboration.
“The existence of such a large black hole defies standard stellar evolution models.”
“One potential explanation is that the two black holes in this binary could have formed from the merger of smaller black holes.”
“This observation highlights how gravitational waves uniquely uncover the fundamental and exotic properties of black holes throughout the universe,” remarked Dr. Dave Reitze, executive director of LIGO at Caltech.
Researchers announced this week the discovery of GW231123, which will be discussed at the 24th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravity (GR24) and the 16th Edoardo Amaldi Meeting on Gravitational Waves, held jointly at the Gr-Amaldi Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.
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LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration. GW231123: The largest black hole binary detected by gravitational waves. Gr-Amaldi 2025
New records for black holes have transformed our understanding of the universe’s most extreme entities.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) began its groundbreaking detection of gravitational waves—ripples in the fabric of spacetime—ten years ago, unveiling nearly 100 black hole collisions. On November 23, 2023, Rigo announced receiving a signal described as “an extraordinary interpretation that defies explanation.” According to Sophie Binnie from the California Institute of Technology, her team ultimately concluded that it corresponded to the largest black hole merger ever recorded.
One of the merging black holes was approximately 100 times the mass of the sun, while the other neared 140 solar masses. Previous records featured black holes that were almost half as massive, primarily due to earlier mergers. Team member Mark Hannam from Cardiff University, UK, emphasized that these black holes were not only immense but also spinning at such high speeds that they challenged mathematical models of the universe regarding their formation.
According to Hannam, the masses of these black holes exceed those typically formed from the collapse of aging stars, suggesting they likely resulted from earlier mergers between smaller black holes. “It’s possible that multiple mergers have occurred,” he notes.
“A decade ago, we were astonished to find black holes around 30 solar masses. Now, we observe black holes over 100 solar masses,” adds Davide Gerosa from the University of Bicocca in Milan, Italy. He mentions that gravitational wave signals from these large, quickly rotating black holes are shorter and consequently more challenging to detect. Binnie presented her findings at the Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves in Glasgow, England, on July 14.
Both Hannam and Binnie emphasize that future observations of similarly remarkable mergers are essential to further decipher these new signals, including unraveling the origins of black holes. As upgrades progress, LIGO is expected to detect more cosmic record-breakers. Yet, in May, the Trump administration proposed halving resources at the facility, which, in Hannam’s opinion, could render capturing new signals exceedingly difficult.
In a new research paper published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, astronomers from the University of Leicester explain for the first time how the “excessive diet” of fresh material in black holes has led to emissions reaching nearly a third of the speed of light.
This image illustrates Seyfert Galaxy PG1211+143. Image credits: Centre Donna Astromyk destrasbourg/Sinbad/SDSS.
The intense outflow of ionized gases has raised significant concerns at the ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray observatory since its initial detection by University of Leicester astronomers in 2001, now recognized as a distinctive trait of the luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs).
Professor Ken Pound and Dr. Kim Page from Leicester remarked:
“The black hole’s size increases with its mass, with a solar mass black hole having a radius of about 3 km.”
“Stellar mass black holes are prevalent across galaxies, often forming from the dramatic collapse of massive stars; however, ultra-massive black holes can be found in the nuclei of almost all galaxies except the smallest external ones.”
In 2014, astronomers undertook a five-week investigation of an ultra-massive black hole in the distant Seyfert Galaxy PG1211+143, located approximately 1.2 billion light-years from the constellation Coma Berenices.
Utilizing ESA’s XMM-Newton Observatory, they observed counter-inflows, accumulating at least 10 Earth masses near the black hole.
In their latest study, they detected a powerful new outflow traveling at 0.27 times the speed of light, initiated shortly thereafter. The gravitational energy released as material is drawn into the black hole is heated to millions of degrees, producing an overwhelming radiant pressure.
“Establishing a direct causal relationship between significant, temporary inflows and the resulting outflows offers an exciting perspective for observing the growth of supermassive black holes through continuous monitoring of the hot relativistic winds linked with new material accretion,” stated Professor Pound.
“PG1211+143 has been the focus of University of Leicester X-ray astronomers using ESA’s XMM-Newton Observatory since its launch in December 1999.”
“Initial findings surprisingly revealed a counterflow of rapid movements, reaching 15% of the speed of light (0.15c), affecting stellar formation (and consequently the growth) of the host galaxy.”
“Subsequent observations have shown that such winds are a common characteristic of bright AGNs.”
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Ken Pounds & Kim Page. 2025. Observations of the Eddington-style outflow from the bright Seyfert Galaxy PG1211+143. mnras 540(3): 2530-2534; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf637
Nature of science journals aims to highlight the complexities of academic publishing.
In an editorial released on Monday, the journal revealed it will include a peer review file with the papers it plans to publish. This will grant reviewers insight into the behind-the-scenes process where authors respond to revisions.
Publishing peer review files has been an option in Nature since 2020, but as of Monday, it has become a standard practice.
“Our goal is to demystify what many refer to as the ‘black box’ of science and clarify how research papers are developed. This aims to enhance transparency and foster trust in the scientific process. We believe that publishing peer reviewer reports enriches scientific communication and contextualizes how results and conclusions are reached.”
Opening the peer review process is becoming increasingly common among scientific journals, but Nature stands out as one of the largest and most influential in adopting this practice.
Peer review occurs once scientific research is submitted to a reputable journal, where field experts evaluate the work for issues such as flawed inferences, poor research practices, and data errors. These external experts provide feedback to journal editors and authors, known as the Judge Report.
“Peer review enhances the quality of the paper,” the editorial states. “The dialogue between authors and reviewers should be regarded as a significant component of the scientific record, crucial to research andits dissemination.”
Nature’s updated process automatically publishes judge reports and author responses. Journal practices evolve particularly when public trust in science wanes; a Pew Research Center poll indicates that trust in scientists fell approximately 10 percentage points from 2019 to 2024, with only 45% of Americans considering scientists to be effective communicators.
Michael Eisen, a former editor of the scientific journal Elife and a proponent of reforming the scientific publishing process, believes Nature’s decision marks a significant step towards greater transparency in the field.
“It’s valuable for the public to witness the process,” Eisen stated. “Much of the criticism stems from misunderstanding, which often arises from a lack of transparency surrounding scientific processes.”
Eisen suggests this move could help skeptics recognize the rigorous scrutiny applied to critical topics.
“For instance, if people observe the thorough examination vaccine-related studies undergo, it can help them better understand and assess the context of scientific findings,” Eisen noted.
At the same time, this transparency may help to mitigate the sensationalism often associated with striking findings.
“It may help dispel the notion that once a paper is published, it is infallible and that all questions have been resolved,” Eisen added.
He also mentioned that Nature could publish reviewer comments on manuscripts that were ultimately rejected.
“The truly transformative step would be to disclose reviews for all submitted papers,” Eisen remarked. “While it’s insightful to understand the questions raised in reviews of accepted papers, it is equally important to see why certain papers were rejected by the journal.”
Image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy
EHT
At the core of our Galaxy lies an extraordinary rotating entity: a black hole that appears to be spinning near its maximum velocity.
Michael Jansen from Radboud University in the Netherlands and his team investigated black holes in the center of the Milky Way, specifically Sagittarius A*, utilizing data gathered by a collective network known as the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). To tackle the intricacies of the data, they opted for artificial intelligence methods.
Initially, they simulated approximately one million black holes using established mathematical models, a computational endeavor that necessitated millions of hours on supercomputers. These simulations served as training data for a type of AI known as neural networks, enabling them to assess the properties of black holes based on empirical observations. Subsequently, they fed the AI with data on Sagittarius A* collected by the EHT throughout 2017.
The AI determined that Sagittarius A* is rotating at 80-90% of its theoretical maximum speed. It also indicated to the researchers that none of the currently available magnetic field models adequately describe the characteristics of this black hole, highlighting the need for additional mathematical modeling. Janssen notes that earlier studies had merely narrowed down the potential characteristics of Sagittarius A*, such as its rotation speed and surrounding magnetic fields, while this new methodology has refined those estimates.
Dimitrios Psaltis from Georgia Tech in Atlanta remarked that some of the findings were unexpectedly counterintuitive. Previous analyses had not clarified whether black hole spins could be accurately discerned from EHT data.
While earlier research suggested that Sagittarius A* might be spinning at significant speeds, Mizuno Yuishi from Zhejiang University in Shanghai, China, noted that there is still room for enhancement in the computational models applied in this new analysis. “Our theoretical model is still not perfect,” he acknowledged.
However, both Mizuno and Psaltis agree that integrating AI into the study of exotic cosmic entities like black holes is increasingly essential. “We possess a wealth of data and numerous models, and we require a contemporary approach to merge the two,” Psaltis states. “This is precisely where machine learning proves to be transformative.”
Yet, this integration presents unique challenges, as AI work necessitates verification to mitigate potential inaccuracies and errors in subsequent analysis.
Janssen and his team have conducted numerous verification checks, including testing the AI with specially designed simulation data. They are also evaluating data from subsequent EHT operations and will be analyzing new findings from observatory results, he explains.
A recent study conducted by physicists at the University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins, and the Institute of Astrophysics in Paris reveals a natural process involving a gravitational particle charger that utilizes free-falling particles from infinity, matter collisions from the most stable circular orbit of rotating black holes, and a gravitational particle charger that repeatedly cycles mass energy—excluding heavy particles. In essence, this describes the Super Collider.
The artist’s concept depicts an ultra-high massive black hole in the heart of the Milky Way galaxy known as Sagittarius A*. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/RALF CRAWFORD, STSCI.
Particle corridors accelerate protons and other subatomic particles towards one another at nearly the speed of light, revealing the fundamental properties of matter.
A subtle energy flash occurs upon collision, with fragments potentially unveiling previously unknown particles that may serve as candidates for dark matter—a crucial, yet elusive, component of the universe that remains undetected by scientists.
Facilities like the Large Hadron Collider also contribute to advancements in areas such as the internet, cancer therapy, and high-performance computing.
“One of the great aspirations for a particle collider like the Large Hadron Collider is to produce dark matter particles, though we have yet to find any evidence,” commented Professor Joseph Silk, an astrophysicist from Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University.
“This is why there’s ongoing dialogue about the necessity of constructing a much more powerful version for the next generation of Super Collider.”
“However, we’ve been waiting for 40 years to invest $30 billion in building this Super Collider, allowing nature to give us a glimpse into the future with supermassive black holes.”
A black hole can rotate around its axis like a planet but possesses significantly greater strength due to its intense gravitational field.
Increasingly, scientists are discovering that massive black holes rapidly spinning at the center of galaxies release enormous explosions of plasma, potentially due to jets transporting energy from the spin and surrounding accretion disks.
These phenomena can yield similar results to those produced by engineered Super Colliders.
“If ultra-high energy black holes can generate these particles through high-energy proton collisions, we could receive signals on Earth. Some high-energy particles pass through the detectors rapidly,” Professor Silk explained.
“This indicates a new particle collider effect within one of the universe’s most mysterious entities, achieving energies unattainable by any accelerator on Earth.”
“We may observe something with a unique signature believed to indicate the presence of dark matter. While this is somewhat speculative, it remains a possibility.”
New research indicates that gas falling into a black hole can harness energy from its spin, resulting in more violent behavior than previously thought.
Near rapidly spinning black holes, these particles can collide in a coordinated manner.
While not identical, this process resembles the collisions created using strong magnetic fields, where particles are accelerated in a circular high-energy particle corridor.
“Some particles from these collisions are swallowed by the black hole and vanish forever,” stated Professor Silk.
“However, due to their energy and momentum, some particles emerge, achieving unprecedented high energies.”
“We have recognized the immense energy of these particle beams, rivaling what can be produced in a Super Collider.”
“Determining the limits of this energy is challenging, but these phenomena are certainly aligned with the energy levels of the latest Super Colliders we plan to construct, providing complementary results.”
To detect such high-energy particles, scientists can utilize observatories that are already monitoring supernovae, massive black hole eruptions, and other cosmic occurrences.
These include detectors like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the Kilometer Cube Neutrino Telescope in Antarctica.
The difference between a Super Collider and a black hole is their vast distances from one another. Nevertheless, these particles still reach us.
The team’s paper was published this week in the journal Physical Review Letters.
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Andrew Mamalie and Joseph Silk. 2025. Black Hole Super Collider. Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 221401; doi:10.1103/physrevlett.134.221401
The discovery of this superwalled black hole was made possible by the newly identified tidal disruption event, AT2024TVD.
Tidal Disruption Event AT2024TVD. Image credits: NASA/CXC/University of California, Berkeley/Yao et al. /ESA /STSCI /HST /J. DEPASQUALE.
“A tidal disruption event (TDE) occurs when stars are either stretched or ‘spaghettified’ by the immense gravitational forces of black holes,” explained UC Berkeley researcher Dr. Yuhanyao.
“The remnants of the torn-apart stars are pulled into a circular orbit around the black hole.”
“This process creates high-temperature shocks and emissions that can be detected in ultraviolet and visible light.”
The AT2024TVD event enabled astronomers to utilize the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to identify elusive wandering supermassive black holes, supported by observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Interestingly, these 1 million rogue black holes are often found to be supermassive and actively consuming surrounding material.
Among the roughly 100 TDEs recorded by the Light Sky Survey, this marks the first instance of an offset TDE being identified.
In fact, at the center of the host galaxy lie ultra-massive black holes differing in mass by 100 million solar masses.
Hubble’s optical precision indicates that the TDE is located just 2,600 light-years from the larger black holes at the galaxy’s core.
This distance is comparable to just one minute of the span between our Sun and the central ultra-massive black hole of the Milky Way.
The larger black hole expels energy as it accumulates material, classifying it as an active galactic nucleus.
Interestingly, the two supermassive black holes exist within the same galaxy but are not gravitationally linked like a binary pair.
Smaller black holes can potentially spiral toward the center of the galaxy, eventually merging with their larger counterparts.
However, at this point, they are too distant to be bound by gravity.
“AT2024TVD is the first offset TDE captured through optical observations, opening up new possibilities for studying this elusive population of black holes in future surveys,” Dr. Yao remarked.
“Currently, theorists have not focused extensively on offset TDEs.
“I believe this discovery will drive scientists to search for more instances of this type of event.”
The black holes responsible for AT2024TVD are traversing the bulges of gigantic galaxies.
Black holes periodically consume stars every tens of thousands of years, lying dormant until their next “meal” arrives.
How did the black hole become displaced from the center? Previous studies suggest that three-body interactions can eject lower-mass black holes from a galaxy’s core.
This theory may apply here, given its proximity to the central black hole.
“If a black hole undergoes a three-body interaction with two other black holes in the galaxy’s core, it can remain bound to the galaxy and orbit the central region,” explained Dr. Yao.
Another possibility is that these black holes are remnants from a smaller galaxy that merged with the host galaxy over a billion years ago.
In such a case, the black hole could eventually merge with the central active black hole in the distant future. As of now, astronomers remain uncertain about its trajectory.
“There is already substantial evidence that the galaxy will increase its TDE rate, but the presence of a second black hole associated with AT2024TVD suggests a past merger has occurred.”
Space Telescope Sciences Scientists According to a team of astronomers led by science scientists at the Sciences, highly ionized neon gas detected in the center of the Spiral Galaxy Messier 83 by a mid-inphrase instrument (MIRI) mounted on the NASA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.
This web image shows the Messier 83. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/Webb/A. Adamo, Stockholm University/Feast JWST Team.
Messier 83 is a spiral galaxy, a magnificently designed rod 15 million light years away from the southern constellations of Hydra.
Also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, M83, NGC 5236, Leda 48082, and UGCA 366, the galaxy is about twice as small as the Milky Way.
Messier 83 was like that I discovered it By French astronomer Nicholas Louis des Lacaille on February 17, 1752.
Its apparent size is 7.5, and is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in the night sky. It is the easiest way to observe using binoculars in May.
This is a prominent member of the galaxy group known as the Centaurus A/M83 group, counting the Dusty NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) and the irregular Galaxy NGC 5253.
Messier 83 has been a mystery for a long time. Large spiral galaxies often host active galactic nuclei (AGN), but astronomers have struggled to see what Messier 83 has been the case for decades.
Previous observations suggested that if a super-large black hole exists there, it must be dormant or hidden behind thick dust. However, new Webb observations reveal signs that suggest that this is not the case.
“The discovery of highly ionized neon emissions in the nucleus of the M83 was unexpected,” said Dr. Svea Hernandez, an astronomer with an ESA aura at the Institute of Space Telescope Science.
“These signatures require a lot of energy to be produced, rather than what a normal star can produce.”
“This strongly suggests the existence of a previously elusive AGN.”
“Before Webb we didn’t have the tools to detect such faintly ionized gas signatures at the nucleus of the M83.”
“Now, with incredible mid-red sensitivity, we can finally explore these hidden depths of the galaxy and uncover what we once couldn’t be seen.”
Webb’s mid-infrared observation allowed astronomers to peer into the dust and detect signs of highly ionized gases in small masses near the galactic nucleus.
The energy required to create these signatures is significantly higher than what supernovae and other great processes can offer, making AGN the most likely explanation.
However, alternative scenarios such as extreme shock waves in interstellar media are still under investigation.
“Webb is revolutionizing understanding of galaxies,” says Dr. Linda Smith, an astronomer at The Space Telescope Science Institute.
“For years, astronomers have been searching for the M83 black hole without success. Now we have compelling clues that could finally exist.”
“This finding shows how Webb is making unexpected breakthroughs.”
“Astronomers thought they had ruled out AGN on the M83, but now there is fresh evidence that they will challenge past assumptions and open new paths for exploration.”
Survey results It will be displayed in Astrophysical Journal.
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Svea Hernandez et al. 2025. JWST/MIRI detection [Ne v] and [Ne vi] M83: Evidence of a long-required active galactic nucleus? APJ 983, 154; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adba5d
When you like giant objects Neutron Star and Black Hole Merge or when Supernova If it explodes in a far distance of space, it creates a final product smaller than an object that collides or erupts. The mass they lose is converted to energy according to Einstein’s famous equation E = MC2 Moves in the form of distortions in space. Scientists call these distortions Gravity wavesand they can indirectly detect them by studying how waves interfere with the observation of other distant objects, or directly interfere in facilities such as Laser interferometer gravitational wave astronomy Or ligo.
Scientists working on the Ligo project have discovered that most of the gravitational waves they detect come from the fusion of two black holes. However, these scientists don’t know how these pairs of black holes converge. So far, they have two broad theories about how this happens. The first is when a large star transforms into a black hole, drifting in close proximity due to the complexity of pushing and pulling other nearby objects. These duos are called It was formed dynamically Binary pair. The second is that two giant stars begin their lives in binary pairs before transitioning to a pair of black holes. These duos are called It is formed primitively Binary pair. Scientists cannot use LIGO data to distinguish between these two types of black holes. Can only be detected if integrated. Therefore, there are other ways to know how they merged.
A team of astrophysicists at Cardiff University used a series of computer simulations to test tests that the theory of black hole mergers is likely to reflect the real world. They use the astrophysical collision modeling code PETAR to group or cluster Stars, including black holes pioneers, have evolved over millions of years, and which scenarios have led to the merger of black holes.
The team created 35 model star clusters that vary by size, with a total mass of 1,000,000 times the total mass of the sun’s mass of all constituent stars, how close the stars are, and the percentage of the non-helium-helium-like elements of helium called hydrogen or helium. Metallic. They determined the size of a particular star within these clusters using statistical distributions ranging from 0.08 to 150 times the mass of the sun. Next, we divide the specific variations of cluster size, star density, and metallicity into two model versions. One had no primitive binary pairs, and the other had more than 20 times the sun’s binary companions.
Researchers looked for general trends in how the simulation progressed. They discovered four million years later that the first black hole formed from the largest star was a pair of binary black holes and black holes stars. Simulations using primitively formed pairs showed that binary black holes formed faster around the same time as the first black holes appeared. In simulations without primitively formed pairs, binary pairs still appeared through dynamic processes, but only after millions of years it was at the very heart of a star cluster. In both simulations, the clusters discharged many of the binary black holes on a sufficiently long timescale and quickly integrated.
Final statistical analysis of 35 model star clusters showed that, unless there are large binary stars when formed in star clusters, the majority of black hole mergers come from primitive binary pairs. They also found no clear relationships between how large and dense the star cluster was and the number of dynamic mergers it generated. Dynamic mergers are relatively rare, but we saw how frequently metals in star clusters occurred. They also reported that a small portion of the merged black hole pairs are part of a larger group of three or four black holes!
The team admitted that they rely on a model of binary star evolution, where their outcomes remain uncertain. However, their conclusions argued that many astrophysicists challenged the core assumption that the most detected black holes merged from large, dense clusters of stars. By showing that primitive binaries are the dominant source of mergers, and knowing that most stars form in small clusters, they argued that most ligo detections are likely to come from small star clusters in the distance of the universe.
In general theory of relativity, the white holes in gravity are virtual regions of space that cannot be entered from the outside. It is the opposite of a black hole where light and information cannot escape. Researchers from the University of Southampton, Nanyan University of Technology, and Texas A&M University have created optical devices that show intriguing similarities to these objects. The device will either fully absorb the wavelength (optical black hole) or completely reject (optical hole) light, depending on the polarization.
Between the double prism devices with thin film, they appear as a dark light absorbing surface – mimicking a black hole of gravity. Image credit: Nina Vaidia, University of Southampton.
The newly developed device acts as an optical black hole or an optical hole hole and is based on a principle known as coherent complete absorption.
Relying on polarization, this optical device is able to absorb or reject light almost completely, similar to the behavior of gravity black or white holes in space.
This device works by forming a rising wave from an incident light wave. This wave interacts with the ultra-thin absorber, leading to complete absorption or transmission based on the polarization of the light.
Simply put, it behaves like an object of the universe that swallows or repels light.
“Sphere phenomena, especially black holes, have captivated human imagination and exploratory plots for generations,” said Professor Nina Vaidia of the University of Southampton.
“Analog is a way of accessing physics, especially in distant objects such as black holes, as aspects of mathematical frameworks and physical principles are repeated in a surprising way in some systems.
“We present the concept of optical black and white holes that deterministically absorb almost all of the light in one polarization, while rejecting orthogonal polarization.”
“It relies on an experimental demonstration of the complete absorption of broadband coherent in compact devices enabled by spatial coherence and interference, while polarization sensitivity is acquired from the geometric phase of the interfering beam.”
The team’s proof-of-concept experiments show that the optical device manipulates electromagnetic waves in a way that reflects the behavior of gravitational black and white holes.
The simulation shows no reflection from the black hole analog device and the formation of standing waves due to incident interference and reflected light in the white hole.
The results can illuminate fascinating insights and possibilities for manipulating the interaction of light and matter, enabling a wide range of practical applications.
“Our optical devices can be employed as analogues to study and explore the physics of these far-flung astronomical phenomena. Or, in fact, they can provide a practical framework for several potential applications for tailoring electromagnetic waves and enhancing lighting interactions such as detection, energy conversion, multispectral camouflage, and stealth technology.
Team’s work Published in the journal Advanced Photonics.
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Eric Plum et al. 2025. Optical analogue of black and white gravity holes. Advanced Photonics 7 (2): 025001; doi: 10.1117/1.ap.7.2.025001
o
UT for all episodes of Black Mirror’s seventh season is a play thing that stands out from me, and I’m suspicious of anyone else who played video games in the 1990s. It tells the story of Cameron Walker, a socially troublesome freelance game journalist. Cameron Walker steals the code to a new virtual pet sim named Thronglets from a developer intended to interview. When he returns home from the game, he discovers that the cute, intelligent little creature he cares for on-screen has darker ambitions than simply playing for his entertainment.
The episodes are interesting to me. But more importantly, too, did Charlie Brooker. He began his career writing satirical features and ferocious reviews of PC Zone Magazine, one of the perpetually fighting PC Mags of the era (I shared the office with other PC Gamers). In Plaything, it is the PC zone written by Cameron Walker, with several scenes taking place in the office. The program depicts it as a reasonably adult office space with an organized computer workstation and huge windows. I don’t think the production design team has gained this vision from Brooker.
“The zone had a much less corporate workplace feel than the episode showed, and it had the feel of a youth club and nightclub for children in the basement,” says Paul Presley, who worked in the PC Zone at the time. “It was just a handful of messy, messy desks stuck in the windowless basement office around Oxford Street (later Tottenham Court Road) and were killed because of floor-to-ceiling windows! on CD.”
For journalistic thoroughness, I also contacted Richie Shoemaker, a graduate of another PC Zone, for his recollections. “There were windows along one side, but they were below street level and are smudged with London stains,” he says. “Silles was breaking dusty magazines, broken joysticks, empty game boxes. It was a permanent night in the best parts of eight years.”
Children in the Underground… Mid-1990s PC Zone Magazine Office Photo: Richie Shoemaker
This episode was more accurate in the game itself. The first scene in the office shows Cam playing Doom when the editor appears. He shows the front cover of the latest issue of the magazine with system shocks on the cover. Then ask Cameron if he has finished his review of Bruflog’s classic adventure game Magic Carpet. “[Plaything] It’s a good thing on the timeline,” says Shoemaker. “Of course, playing Doom in the office was the norm. When I joined the team’s earthquake, it was a death-death at lunch and work. Magic Carpet reviews. did It was featured in the question after System Shock (which was actually Charlie’s first cover review), but it went from 93% to 96%, written by Launch Editor Paul Lakin, who continued to work in foreign offices. ” He also believes that the old editor of the episode’s Grizzled might have been inspired by then-associated editor Chris Anderson. Shoemaker believes that “he was a rather vampire character who seemed to be present in Tobacco and Ultima’s online diet.”
What appeals to me is the origin of inspiration for the Thronglets Virtual Pet game. Most reviewers refer to Tamagotchi, the keychain pet toy that stormed the world in the late 90s. Brooker himself refers to it in an interview. But the much more likely candidate was the 1996 title creature, with players caring for cute creatures for generations. It looked like a cute pet game, but it was actually a very sophisticated experiment in artificial life, created by cyberlife technology that clearly sounds sci-fi. Players had to try to establish breeding groups of creatures known as Norns, but their control was limited as they were encoded in advanced neural networks and functioned internal body systems that regulate behavior and physical abilities. Cyberlife has created a great deal of the complexity and experimental nature of the game. The box comes with a warning sticker that says “digital DNA is surrounded by” and the blurb in the back warned players that it would unleash the world’s first artificial life science experiment.
Cuteer than it looks… a creature. Photo: CyberLife Technologies
Creature creator Steve Grand has similarities with Play Things (and Vander Snatch) coder Colin Rittman. He was a programmer who was tired of traditional games and wanted to try something very new. He went on to write books about creatures and their development, creation, that is, life and how to make them, and later became an internationally famous robotist and developed the famous robot orangutan. Certainly the most black mirror career trajectory ever. In 2011 he began working on a mental follow-up to a creature named Grandroids. Thronglets was to develop a race for intelligent AI aliens. Grand launched Kickstarter in 2016. Fantasy. Everything is very interesting.
This is one of the things I like about Black Mirrors, and it’s actually the use of technology and video games in traditional dramas. This is an inexplicable world filled with quirky people that no one outside the industry has ever heard of, but it has a huge impact on the toys they make. Personally, I wanted to see more PC zones, as imagined in the program, but I understand that ominous flocks are the real focus. Maybe one day there will be a Silicon Valley-style drama series about the 1990s gaming industry. It was hell. For now, it’s interesting to see both Brooker and me living in a world that is used as a venue for dystopian fiction.
Astronomers using the Muse Instrument with ESO’s extremely large telescope (VLT) detected ultra-large black hole-driven winds with the Burred Spiral Galaxy NGC 4945.
This image shows NGC 4945, a spiral galaxy that exceeds 12 million light-years in the constellation of Centaurus. The super-large black hole-driven wind of the NGC 4945 is shown in red in the inset. Image credits: ESO/Marconcini et al.
NGC 4945 It is more than 12 million light years away from Earth, the constellation of Centaurus.
Otherwise known as the Caldwell 83. That’s what this galaxy was like I discovered it by James Dunlop, the Sottsch astronomer in 1826.
NGC 4945 hosts one of the closest active, ultra-large black holes to Earth.
“At the heart of almost every galaxy, they are very large black holes,” the ESO astronomer explained in a statement.
“Some people are not particularly hungry, as they are in the heart of our own Milky Way.”
“However, the super-large black hole in NGC 4945 is greedy and consumes a huge amount of problems.”
Astronomers have studied the ultra-high Massive black holes of the NGC 4945 using the Muse Instrument, an ESO’s extremely large telescope (VLT).
“Contrary to the all-consuming reputation typical of black holes, this messy eater is blowing away the powerful winds of ingredients,” they said.
“This cone-shaped wind is shown in red in the inset and is covered in a wider image taken with La Silla’s MPG/ESO telescope.”
“In fact, this wind moves so fast that it completely escapes the galaxy, giving in to space in intergalactic space.”
“This is part of a new study measuring how the wind moves in several nearby galaxies,” they added.
“Muse’s observations show that these incredibly fast winds show strange behavior. They actually speed up far from the central black hole, and accelerate even further on their journey to the outskirts of the galaxy.”
“This process suggests that black holes control the fate of the host galaxy by ejecting potential star-forming material from the galaxy and attenuating the star’s fertility.”
“It also shows that more powerful black holes can hamper their own growth by removing the gas and dust they feed, bringing the entire system closer to a kind of galactic equilibrium.”
“Now, these new results bring us one step closer to understanding the mechanisms of wind acceleration that are responsible for galaxy evolution and the history of the universe.”
Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Natural Astronomy.
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C. Marconcini et al. Evidence of rapid acceleration of AGN-driven winds at the Kiloparsec scale. Nut Athlonreleased on March 31, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02518-6
According to a new study by a physicist at the University of Sheffield and a certified officer at the University of Madrid, black holes can migrate into white holes, eject matter, and even return to space.
Steffen Gielen & Lucía Menéndez-Pidal Research Quantum dynamics of planar black holes require the unification of conjugation of natural time coordinates. Image credit: Sci.News.
According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, anyone trapped within a black hole falls towards the center and is destroyed by immeasurable gravity.
Known as a singularity, the center is a point where the problem of the giant star, thought to have collapsed to form a black hole, is crushed by an infinitely small point.
This singularity breaks down understanding of physics and time.
New research, a fundamental theory that uses the laws of quantum mechanics to explain the nature of the universe at the level of atoms and even smaller particles, proposes a fundamentally different theoretical perspective that may represent a new beginning, rather than a singularity that means an end.
“It is said that black holes often suck everything including time, but new papers theorize that white holes act inversely, bringing energy and time back into space,” said Dr. Stephen Gillen of the University of Sheffield and Dr. Lucia Menendez Pidal of Madrid's compliant university.
In their work, the authors use a simplified theoretical model of black holes known as planar black holes.
Unlike typical spherical black holes, the boundaries of planar black holes are flat, two-dimensional surfaces.
Researchers' research suggests that the same mechanism may also apply to typical black holes.
“It has long been a question of whether quantum mechanics can change the understanding of black holes and provide insight into their essence,” Dr. Gielen said.
“In quantum mechanics, it's the time when we understand that systems can't end because they change and evolve permanently.”
The scientists' findings use the laws of quantum mechanics to show how the singularities of black holes can be replaced by a large area of quantum fluctuation that does not end space and time – a region of small temporary changes in spatial energy. Instead, space and time move into a new phase called the Whitehall. So the white holes may start to take time.
“It is generally thought to be related to observers, but in our research it comes from the mysterious dark energy that permeates the entire universe,” Dr. Gielen said.
“We propose that time is all over the universe and is measured by dark energy responsible for its current expansion.”
“This is an important new idea that will allow you to understand what happens within a black hole.”
In this study, physicists use dark energy almost as a reference point, and as a complementary idea that allows energy and time to be measured from one another.
In appetite, the theory that what we perceive as a singularity is actually beginning suggests the existence of something even more enigmatic on the other side of the white hole.
“Hypossibly, an observer (a hypothetical entity) can pass through a black hole, through what we consider singularity, and appear on the other side of the white hole. It's a very abstract concept of an observer, but in theory it can happen,” Dr. Gielen said.
Team's paper It was published in the journal this week Physical Review Letter.
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Steffen Gielen & Lucía Menéndez-Pidal. 2025. Black hole singularity resolution in monopolar gravity from uniformity. Phys. Pastor Rett 134, 101501; doi: 10.1103/physrevlett.134.101501
The mass of the ultra-large black hole in the heart of the large Magellan cloud, a small milky satellite galaxy, is approximately 600,000 solar mass.
Impressions of the Hyper Belt Lattist artist ejected from the large Magellan cloud (shown on the right). If the binary star system gets too close to an ultra-large number of black holes, intense gravity will tear the pair apart. One star is captured in tight orbits around a black hole, while the other is thrown outward at extreme speeds – often exceeding thousands of kilometers per second, making it a high-speed star. The inset diagram illustrates this process. The orbital path of the original binary is displayed as an interwoven line, one star is captured by a black hole (near the center of the inset), and the other is ejected into space (bottom right). Image credit: CFA/Melissa Weiss.
“Our Milky Way galaxy halo includes a few stars running faster than local escape speeds in orbit that carry them into intergalactic space,” said Dr. Jesse Han, Ph.D. of the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Colleagues.
“One mechanism for generating such ultrafast stars is the Hills mechanism. When a close binary star wanders near an ultrahigh Massive black hole, one star can be captured, while the other is ejected at a rate that reaches more than a second.”
In their new study, astronomers followed the path with ultrafine accuracy of 21 superfast stars in halos outside the Milky Way.
They confidently categorized these stars, finding that seven of them coincided with those born out of the center of the Milky Way.
However, the other nine stars coincided with those born from the centre of the large Magellan cloud, about 160,000 light years away from us.
“Cosmologically speaking, it's amazing to notice another super-large black hole just below the block,” Dr. Han said.
“Black holes are so stealthy that this has been under our noses this time.”
Researchers discovered a large Magellanic Cloud black hole using data from ESA's Gaia Mission.
They also used improved understanding of the orbital of the d-star galaxies around the Milky Way, which was recently obtained by other astronomers.
“We knew these superfast stars had been around for a while, but Gaia provided us with the data we needed to figure out where they actually came from,” says Dr. Kareem El-Badry, an astronomer at Caltech.
“Combining these data with a new theoretical model of how these stars move, we made this incredible discovery.”
“The only explanation we can come up with for these data is the presence of a monster black hole in the next Galaxy,” said Dr. Scott Lucchini, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
The conditioner for the black hair on the left comes from the wooden powder on the right
Feng Shui King/Stockholm University
This sustainable wood-based hair conditioner may smell pure white and peat-like, but its creators suggest that the tests may work similarly to commercial products. They claim that it could become a future for hair care.
“We use the power of nature.” Ievgen Pylypchuk At Stockholm University in Sweden. “We combine high-level science with old traditions… [to] Get something really cool: simple, convenient, and very effective. ”
Pylypchuk and his colleagues used lignin, a polymer, a central component of wood and bark, as a starting point for bio-based conditioners. When extracted from wood, lignin naturally interacts with waterIt also functions as a surfactant, but is an important ingredient in surfactants. It also contains natural antioxidants that help preserve the conditioner, providing UV protection, says Pylypchuk. “In this context, lignin functions as a multifunctional platform,” he says. “It protects against UV rays and keeps you moisturized.”
The researchers combined lab-developed ligning gel with coconut oil and water to create the final product. Team Members Mika ShipponenStockholm University also claims it works much the same as commercial conditioners. When used with moist bleached human hair samples and then washed away, combing hair while 13% moisturizing reduces the “drag” and resists, compared to the commercial products tested. has decreased by 20%.
One potential drawback is that the current formula of conditioners is “pain black” and smells like “cooked wood” that resembles peat, Shipponen says. It does not prevent researchers from pondering its commercialization. They say they test hair, towels and pig skin formulas and wash them off without leaving any dirt. Even the smell is very comfortable, says Pylypchuk. “I personally liked it so much, and most of the people in our lab – maybe because they work with Lignin – they liked it.”
Pylypchuk and Sipponen There is a patent We hope that ligningel and conditioners will become consumer products, offering people a more sustainable alternative to current products that rely on ingredients derived from fossil fuels. They say the next step is to see if it causes irritation to the eyes and skin prior to the trials of living hair.
However, American cosmetics researchersTrefor Evans, Previously, he was at the Textile Research Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, where he questioned how well his products would work compared to his commercial rivals. “I've been doing these experiments for 30 years, and traditional conditioner products reduce the power of the comb by 80%, perhaps 90%,” he says. Shipponen believes that variations in hair testing methods and condition during analysis can explain whether his team was reduced by only 20% of commercial conditioners.
The appearance and unusual smell of wood-based conditioners may drive away consumers, Evans says. “Patent literature is absolutely packed with stuff. “And the reason is that you don't just need effectiveness. What you really need is aesthetics for consumers to buy it.” ”
So, will a black, lush, environmentally friendly conditioner be a hit with consumers? “It sounds a bit like a starter,” Evans says.
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