Physicist on a Quest to Discover the Universe’s Largest Black Hole

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

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Black holes are colossal entities in the universe, even the smallest among them boasting a mass many times that of our Sun. However, one particular black hole is capturing considerable attention: the Supermassive Large Astrophysical Black hole (SLAB). These enigmatic objects can rival entire galaxies in size, or even exceed them.

The concept of SLAB originated from astronomers striving to unlock the mysteries of dark matter, a substance that constitutes approximately 85 percent of the universe’s mass. Researchers are testing various methods to find SLAB, including attempts to detect the light they emit, or observe their effects on spacetime. Recently, astronomer Brian Lackey proposed a new approach through the Breakthrough Listen project at the University of Oxford: seeking the shadow SLAB casts on the cosmic microwave background (CMB)—the residual light from the Big Bang.

We engaged in an enlightening conversation with Brian Lackey to discuss his pioneering ideas around these immense black holes, their potential discovery, and the implications for cosmology. Interestingly, Lackey’s journey into this field began through his main work focused on the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life.

<p><strong>Matt von Hippel: Your primary focus is not on black holes, but on the search for aliens through the Breakthrough Listen initiative. Let's start from there.</strong></p>
<p>
    Brian Lackey: Breakthrough Listen represents the most extensive effort to conduct SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), exploring technosignatures or signs of alien technology. Our primary approach involves analyzing radio waves; for instance, we search for unique radio transmissions within narrow frequency ranges, which we believe are challenging to create naturally. If detected and not attributed to human interference, these signals could indicate extraterrestrial technological activity.
</p>
<p>
    Aside from radio waves, we also look for ultra-short laser pulses. Few cosmic phenomena produce flash events lasting mere nanoseconds. Our collaborations with global observatories enable us to survey various technosignatures. We are among the leading groups involved in this search.
</p>
<p><strong>How does the quest for extraterrestrial intelligence intertwine with the fascinating concept of SLAB?</strong></p>
<p>
    As a theorist, I ponder what exists beyond our understanding, shaping our search for life. It is theorized that extraterrestrial intelligence may not only reside on Earth; they could construct vast structures greater than our solar system. One such concept, known as a Dyson swarm, comprises an array of light-absorbing elements encircling a star to harness its energy for their needs, whether for living spaces or computational power.
</p>
<p>
    A decade ago, speculation escalated regarding how advanced societies might operate at a galactic level. I proposed that instead of surrounding stars, these civilizations could deploy engineered dust particles in the interstellar medium, each containing a miniature computer. These dust particles would still capture starlight but remain cooler due to their distance, potentially around 3 or 4 Kelvin. The efficiency of colder environments increases computational performance.
</p>
<p>
    I further contended that, hypothetically, if one were to utilize a massive black hole—one exceeding 1000 trillion solar masses—they could effectively cool a vast array of small computers clustered nearby. This notion is speculative, yet it suggests that should such a colossal black hole exist, it might be detectable.
</p>
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                 alt="Festival participants dressed as aliens" 
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                 srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/17111110/SEI_301636489.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/17111110/SEI_301636489.jpg?width=400 400w" 
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                 data-caption="Brian Lackey's research involves discovering signs of advanced alien civilizations." 
                 data-credit="Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty" />
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                <p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Brian Lackey investigates methods to unveil traces of advanced alien civilizations.</p>
                <p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty</p>
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<p><strong>It's astounding to consider alien societies employing immense black holes as energy sinks, akin to cooling systems in vehicles.</strong></p>
<p>
    Yes, that is indeed one possible application. Another hypothesis suggests that heat could flow into a black hole from surrounding cosmic microwave background radiation, functioning as a cosmic heat engine. This energy could harness heat flows to generate electricity on a galactic scale.
</p>
<p><strong>But doesn't the existence of SLAB conflict with our established understanding of the cosmos?</strong></p>
<p>
    Currently, we recognize two main types of black holes: stellar black holes, generally up to about 100 solar masses, and supermassive black holes found at galaxy centers, said to range from 1 million to tens of billions of solar masses.
</p>
<p>
    The prevailing belief is that supermassive black holes are indeed the universe's largest. As matter approaches a black hole, it generates significant radiation, potentially producing jets or winds that could counteract further growth. Consequently, it was assumed that a black hole exceeding 100 billion solar masses couldn't exist. However, this remains an open question.
</p>
<p><strong>You weren't the first to theorize about SLAB. Who initially considered their existence, and how could they grow so large?</strong></p>
<p>
    The idea was systematically developed by Bernard Carr, an astronomer from Queen Mary University of London, and his collaborators in 2020. They speculated that SLABs may have formed shortly after the Big Bang, occurring from fluctuations in the universe's density that could collapse into black holes. These hypothesized primordial black holes could manifest if such fluctuations spanned extensive cosmic regions.
</p>
<p>
    Carr pondered whether a population of black holes exceeding a trillion solar masses could ever be detected, suggesting it was feasible under the laws of physics—an avenue previously unexplored.
</p>

<p><strong>Primordial black holes also intrigue physicists as potential candidates for dark matter.</strong></p>
<p>
    The search for various dark matter types, such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), continues, as they have yet to be found in particle experiments. As researchers consider other alternatives, primordial black holes emerge as a compelling option.
</p>
<p><strong>Could SLAB itself constitute a significant portion of dark matter?</strong></p>
<p>
    Not within our galaxy, as they are intergalactic. However, diffuse dark matter may exist in the cosmos, potentially playing a role in the broader cosmic web that links galaxies, even if they don't influence individual galaxy rotations.
</p>
<p><strong>Is there any hope of discovering SLAB?</strong></p>
<p>
    Carr and his team have proposed methodologies to search for them. One potential indication of their presence might be their gravitational influence on nearby galaxies, drawing them together. If such black holes exist within intergalactic space, matter falling into them would heat up and emit radiation. So far, however, no signatures confirming this hypothesis have been found.
</p>
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                 alt="The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration's polarized view of the M87 black hole." 
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                 src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/17111117/SEI_301636696.jpg" 
                 srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/17111117/SEI_301636696.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/17111117/SEI_301636696.jpg?width=400 400w" 
                 sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" 
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                 data-caption="The black hole M87*, imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration in 2019." 
                 data-credit="EHT collaboration" />
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                <p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">M87*: The black hole at the core of a neighboring galaxy, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration in 2019.</p>
                <p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">EHT collaboration</p>
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<p><strong>Your recent research seeks different forms of evidence for SLAB within the cosmic microwave background. How do you pursue this?</strong></p>
<p>
    I aim to identify the shadow SLAB may cast. Images of Sagittarius A* and M87* reveal black holes appearing as "holes" surrounded by glowing halos. In principle, if a black hole were to possess the mass of a thousand suns, it could manifest as a sunspot against the cosmic microwave background.
</p>
<p><strong>So, did you uncover anything significant?</strong></p>
<p>
    We utilized existing CMB surveys with highly sensitive telescopes to search for subtle temperature variations. Although no such phenomena have been observed, it does not rule out the existence of SLAB, suggesting they are extremely rare or possibly nonexistent in our observable universe.
</p>

<p><strong>What implications would arise from discovering evidence of SLAB?</strong></p>
<p>
    Finding them would yield insights into events shortly after the Big Bang, possibly revealing unknown physical processes responsible for the formation of these gigantic black holes. This could herald exciting new physics previously unconsidered in our explorations.
</p>
<p><strong>Considering SETI and SLAB, what intrigues you most in current astronomical research?</strong></p>
<p>
    The oldest galaxies observable today date back approximately 13.5 billion years. However, there remains a gap leading to the cosmic microwave background, the earliest detectable radiation emitted shortly after the Big Bang, around 300 million years before the formation of the oldest galaxies. This period, known as the "Dark Age of the Universe," is crucial, yet largely unexplored. While we use tools like the James Webb Space Telescope to observe ancient galaxies, this crucial era remains elusive to us.
</p>
<p>
    It’s thrilling to ponder what treasures might lie within this unexplored era of cosmic history. SLAB is one possibility, but many other remnants of the Big Bang could await discovery.
</p>

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb Telescope Uncovers Strongest Evidence Yet of Early Universe Black Hole

Posted on June 15, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have long been captivated by a mysterious cluster of faint red objects known as “little red dots,” discovered by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. Recently, Vasily Kokolev, an astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin, and his team utilized the Webb’s NIRCam and NIRSpec instruments to capture the deepest spectrum of a tiny red dot, named GLIMPSE-17775, ever recorded. The findings reinforce the theory that this object is a supermassive black hole enveloped in a thick cocoon of partially ionized gas, aligning with the BH* (black hole star) model.

This web image depicts the small red dot GLIMPSE-17775 behind galaxy cluster Abel S1063. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Vasily Kokorev, UT Austin / Alyssa Pagan, STScI.

“There is a growing consensus in the scientific community that this little red dot can be explained by the black hole star model,” said Kokolev.

“However, none of the other little red dots have presented all the necessary evidence together until now.”

“GLIMPSE-17775 provides an exceptional opportunity to test these models due to its remarkable spectrum,” Kokolev added.

With a cosmological redshift of 3.5, GLIMPSE-17775 existed approximately 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang.

This intriguing object came into view serendipitously during Webb’s observations of the galaxy cluster Abel S1063, which aimed to identify Population III stars and faint early galaxies.

Positioned behind the star cluster, the brightness of the small red dot is enhanced through the phenomenon of gravitational lensing.

“When I first examined the spectrum, it felt like I had scattered puzzle pieces on the floor,” Dr. Kokolev remarked.

“We meticulously measured the lines, fitting the pieces together to form a cohesive picture.”

“Some initial fragments that appeared insignificant suddenly revealed a deeper connection.”

The spectroscopic data gathered by Webb contains multiple lines of evidence confirming the interpretation of GLIMPSE-17775 as a black hole star. This phenomenon occurs when a rapidly accreting black hole is shielded by a dense gas cocoon, which modifies the light emitted near the black hole, producing distinct spectral features.

“Everything aligns perfectly, and this adds depth to our understanding of the universe,” Kokolev expressed.

“In the future, I aspire to delve deeper into what powers the core of this little red dot.”

“While we believe it is a black hole, alternative theories are also intriguing and deserve consideration.”

“We anticipate that, within a year or two, we will have a definitive understanding of the energy sources that drive these phenomena.”

Details from the team’s findings will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

_____

Vasily Kokolev and colleagues. 2026. Insights into the dense gas cocoon surrounding GLIMPSE-17775. APJ 1004, 153; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae4ed7.

Source: www.sci.news

New Discovery: Supernova Remnant Found Near Milky Way’s Central Black Hole

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have discovered the potential remnants of an ancient stellar explosion just a few dozen light-years from Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton satellite.

This composite image integrates X-rays from the Chandra and XMM-Newton missions (represented in blue) along with radio data from the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa (in red). It also includes optical images from the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii. Image credits: NASA / CXC / UCLA / Zhu et al. / ESA / XMM-Newton / PanSTARRS / MeerKAT / CSA / STScI / SAO / L. Frattare & P. Edmonds.

Recent X-ray data from the Chandra and XMM-Newton missions suggest a new supernova remnant candidate approximately 26,000 light-years from Earth.

The data revealed a ‘clump’ of X-ray radiation embedded within a larger cloud of expanding gas, likely remnants of a giant star that underwent a supernova explosion, according to the astronomers’ report.

This structure exists within a gas bubble (referred to as an HII region) surrounding a massive young star, where hydrogen has been stripped of its electrons.

This gas bubble is identified as Sagittarius C, which emits bright radio signals.

If confirmed as a supernova remnant, it is expanding at an estimated speed of 3.2 million kilometers per hour (2 million miles per hour) and is believed to be at least 1,700 years old.

Previous observations from NASA’s SOFIA mission indicated a shell of gas encircling Sagittarius C, suggesting a past stellar explosion in this region.

The long filaments visible in radio images are primarily generated by high-energy particles navigating along magnetic fields perpendicular to the galactic plane, according to the researchers.

A star’s fusion process creates elements from hydrogen and helium, which were plentiful at the universe’s onset.

When a star reaches the end of its life and explodes as a supernova, the newly formed elements are expelled into interstellar space, providing materials for the formation of new stars and planets.

The research team analyzed X-ray data to detect signs of increased abundance of critical elements in the debris, which could indicate they were ejected by an explosive stellar event.

No enhancement was observed, suggesting that the stellar debris may have already begun to mix with the surrounding gas.

Alternatively, the X-ray clump could originate from a gathering of massive stars in the vicinity; however, this scenario is deemed unlikely, as the X-ray emission from this blob is over ten times brighter than known clusters with bright, massive stars, according to the scientists.

Refer to their published study in the April 16th issue of the Astrophysical Journal.

_____

Zhu Zhenlin et al.. 2026. Diffuse emission of X-rays in the Sagittarius C complex. APJ 1001, 197; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae547c

Source: www.sci.news

Milky Way’s Missing Black Hole Wind Discovered by Astronomers: Key Findings Revealed

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

After five decades of extensive research, astronomers have discovered compelling evidence that Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole with 4.3 million solar masses at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy, is emitting hot cosmic winds. These winds are shaping a vast cavity close to the galaxy’s center.

This image illustrates the winds emanating from Sagittarius A*. The central white dot marks a supermassive black hole. The orange data from ALMA indicates the position of cold carbon monoxide gas, while the blue data from Chandra shows hot, X-ray-emitting gas. The large conical cavity represents a region devoid of cold gas with intense hot gas emissions. Image credits: NASA / CXC / UMass / Wang et al. / ALMA / ESO / National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / NRAO / Longmore et al. / Miniti et al.

Theoretical physics suggests that as black holes devour matter, they generate winds or jets. Even minimal amounts of gas falling into a black hole can produce enough energy to expel matter outward.

Until recent observations, the winds from Sagittarius A*, our galaxy’s central black hole, had never been distinctly identified.

Astronomers utilized years of detailed observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) to analyze the cold gas within several light-years of the black hole.

By eliminating the bright radio emissions from the black hole, researchers unveiled a vast cone-shaped void in the cold gas, directly aligned with the black hole. This phenomenon serves as clear evidence of substantial, hot winds expelled from Sagittarius A*.

“Unless a black hole exists in a complete vacuum, some form of wind should be present,” stated Dr. Mark Gorsky, an astronomer at Northwestern University.

“However, there is no absolute vacuum in space.”

“These observations represent the first time we can distinctly identify wind signatures,” Dr. Gorsky added.

“As we analyzed the data, we realized, ‘This is it. This is what scientists have been searching for over the past 50 years.’”

Over five years, Dr. Gorski and colleague Dr. Lena Murchikova mapped radiation from carbon monoxide, a key indicator of cold molecular gases, within approximately 1 parsec (or 3 light-years) of Sagittarius A*.

The careful modeling and subtraction of the black hole’s rapidly varying radio emissions allowed researchers to discern faint and complex structures in the surrounding gas.

“For the first time, we’ve confirmed that a black hole is being fed molecular gas very close to it,” explained Dr. Murchikova from Northwestern University.

“The winds are moderate, and their direction may fluctuate over time.”

“This discovery indicates that our black hole is not an isolated phenomenon, nor is our position in the universe unique.”

Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory confirmed the presence of hot gas in the same vicinity, verifying that this outflow was indeed from a black hole and not from a neighboring star.

“Exceptional claims necessitate exceptional evidence,” Dr. Gorski noted.

“We were cautious to ensure we weren’t misinterpreting an image artifact, and the X-ray images from Chandra corroborated our findings. The molecular signatures aligned perfectly.”

The ALMA map boasts approximately 100 times greater depth and 80 times sharper resolution than previous carbon monoxide images in the region, making it the most sensitive and highest-resolution map of cold gas surrounding Sagittarius A* to date.

Researchers estimate that these winds have been active for at least 20,000 years, though they are relatively calm in comparison to the dramatic jets observed in other galaxies.

“Most galaxies remain relatively dormant throughout their lifetimes,” Dr. Murchikova commented.

“However, we only observe them during these explosive episodes.”

“While it’s captivating to study black holes during these outburst phases, they represent a brief segment of their overall existence.”

“Sagittarius A* has finally opened a window into the life of this otherwise silent black hole.”

The team’s findings will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

_____

Mark D. Gorski and Lena Murchikova. 2026. Discovery of active winds from the central black hole of the Milky Way Galaxy. APJL 1004, L7; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae63cf

Source: www.sci.news

Webb Discovers Most Distant Inactive Black Hole Ever Found

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

A supermassive black hole, boasting six billion times the mass of our Sun, resides in MRG-M0138. This discovery is based on data from the NIRSpec Integral Field Spectrometer on board NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope. MRG-M0138, a quiescent galaxy influenced by gravitational lensing, was observed when the universe was a mere 3 billion years old.

This image showcases the highly distorted red galaxy MRG-M0138 as viewed through the foreground galaxy cluster. Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb.

Located over 10 billion light-years away, MRG-M0138’s appearance is magnified by a massive galaxy cluster, making distant galaxies seem around 30 times larger than they would normally appear.

Currently, MRG-M0138 is not forming stars, and its central black hole is also inactive.

“Utilizing Webb’s remarkable vision combined with the effects of gravitational lensing, we successfully detected this black hole located 10 billion light-years away,” remarked Dr. Andrew Newman, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science and the University of Southern California.

Dr. Newman and his team studied MRG-M0138 using Webb’s NIRSpec Integrating Magnetic Field Spectrometer.

“By merging Webb’s data with gravitational lensing effects, we were able to observe within the influence sphere of a black hole, where gravity accelerates star speeds,” he added.

“This method is one of our most effective for measuring black hole masses, and we are thrilled to apply it to earlier epochs in the universe’s timeline.”

“Only a handful of dormant black holes of this size have been detected, all in nearby regions.”

This groundbreaking finding sheds new light on the co-evolution of black holes and galaxies in the early universe.

Observations of nearby galaxies show a close correlation between the mass of central black holes and the characteristics of surrounding galaxies.

However, it has been challenging to determine if such relationships existed billions of years ago.

This fresh discovery hints that the densest galaxies were often sites for rapid black hole growth early in the universe’s history.

Though currently dormant, it is believed that MRG-M0138 was once a powerful quasar.

Professor Richard Ellis from University College London noted, “By analyzing how stars move collectively within this distant galaxy, we can measure the mass of a supermassive black hole that would otherwise remain undetectable.”

“Proving the viability of these methods for early universe galaxies will enable a more thorough investigation of black hole development over time and illuminate their role in galaxy evolution.”

The full results are published in the journal Science here.

_____

Andrew B. Newman et al. 2026. Dynamic mass measurements of an inactive black hole star at redshift 2. Science 392 (6802): 1065-1068; DOI: 10.1126/science.adx5816

Source: www.sci.news

Webb Telescope Uncovers Supermassive Black Hole Older than Its Host Galaxy

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers utilizing NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope have made a groundbreaking discovery of a massive black hole in the early universe, which intriguingly appears to be older than its host galaxy. This revelation raises significant questions about the formation of the universe’s first supermassive black holes.

This Webb/NIRCam image captures the small red dot Abell2744-QSO1, magnified and triple-imaged by the galaxy cluster Abell 2744. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Lukas Furtak, Ben-Gurion University / Alyssa Pagan, STScI.

Abel 2744-QSO1 (commonly referred to as QSO1) is a typical “little red dot” existing just 700 million years post-Big Bang.

Though QSO1 spans only 1,300 light-years and its light has traveled over 13 billion years, it offers a more accessible study compared to other small red dots due to its gravitational lensing by the galaxy cluster Abel 2744.

QSO1 is uniquely magnified and appears in three locations in the sky, thanks to this lensing effect.

Dr. Roberto Maiorino from the University of Cambridge stated, “This is a remarkable discovery that represents a paradigm shift in understanding black hole formation and growth.”

Initial studies suggest QSO1 may consist of a cloud of glowing hydrogen and helium gas orbiting a supermassive black hole approximately 40 million times the mass of our Sun.

However, uncertainty lingered regarding the true scale of this black hole, similar to other early black holes discovered by Webb.

Dr. Francesco Deugenio of the University of Cambridge remarked, “Until now, measurements of black hole masses in the early universe have been indirect, based on established knowledge of local black holes.”

Researchers have employed the Integral Field Unit (IFU) of Webb’s NIRSpec instrument to effectively map the movement of hydrogen gas around this black hole.

They observed that gas exhibited Keplerian motion, indicating it orbits a central point much like planets orbit the Sun in our solar system.

Ignas Giouojuvaris, a graduate student at the University of Cambridge, added, “This finding indicates that most of QSO1’s mass is concentrated in the central black hole.” If the mass were dispersed like many stars, the gas wouldn’t exhibit such precise Keplerian rotation.

Using these gravity-driven Keplerian motions, researchers could directly calculate the black hole’s mass through gas velocity measurements, a feat previously unattainable.

The black hole was found to be around 50 million solar masses, astonishingly accounting for two-thirds of QSO1’s total mass—thousands of times larger than proportions found in nearby galaxies, where supermassive black holes typically comprise only a small fraction of their host galaxies.

The IFU configuration map supported these observations, revealing that QSO1’s gas is primarily hydrogen and helium, with minimal heavy elements like oxygen, expected in a star-rich galaxy.

With less than 0.5% of the Sun’s metallicity, QSO1 stands as one of the most pristine galactic environments ever analyzed.

Dr. Cosimo Marconcini, an astronomer at the University of Florence, proclaimed, “This is an extraordinary result—marking the first direct measurement of a black hole’s mass within the first billion years post-Big Bang, aligning with prior indirect measurements.”

The extraordinary mass of QSO1 relative to its host galaxy implies it could not have formed gradually through the merging and feeding of smaller stellar-mass black holes.

Giouojuvaris noted, “We might be witnessing a black hole that lacks a substantial host galaxy and predates stellar processes.” This offers compelling evidence for the existence of primordial black holes and direct collapse black holes, concepts previously theorized but not substantiated.

Whether the black hole in QSO1 originated as a massive seed shortly after the Big Bang or emerged later from the collapse of a giant gas cloud, it likely formed large and may be in the initial stages of cultivating a galaxy around it.

These findings are documented in two research papers: the journal Nature and Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

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I. Juojubaris et al. 2026. Direct measurements of black hole masses in small red dots at high redshifts. Nature 653, 1017-1021; doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10579-4

Roberto Maiorino et al. 2026. A black hole in a nearly primordial galaxy 700 million years post-Big Bang. MNRAS 548 (1): staf2109;doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf2109

Source: www.sci.news

NASA’s Stunning New Image Reveals the Incredible Power of a Supermassive Black Hole

Posted on May 22, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Recent images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope have illuminated one of the brightest cosmic scenes in the universe.

Messier 77 (M77), commonly referred to as the Squid Galaxy, features swirling tentacles of dust and gas extending into the depths of intergalactic space.

What sets this galaxy apart, located an astounding 47 million light-years from Earth, is the brilliant rays of light emanating from its core.

The new images highlight the remarkable activity of this galactic nucleus. According to Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex, “Look how bright the center of this galaxy is compared to the trillions of stars surrounding it,” as reported by BBC Science Focus.

“For many years, the reason behind the incredible brightness of these galactic centers puzzled astronomers, but calculations and observations have shown that the only plausible explanation for such luminous entities is that substantial amounts of gas are spiraling into the supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s center.”

The term “super-sized” inadequately describes M77. With a staggering 8 million solar masses, it boasts a mass double that of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s center.

Furthermore, Baskill notes a significant distinction: “A massive amount of gas is descending in a disk towards the supermassive black hole at the core of M77. In contrast, our Milky Way galaxy is relatively quiet, with only rare stars drifting into its central black hole.”

“This stark difference in gas activity accounts for the dramatic luminosity contrast between M77 and our galaxy.”

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Discover the Secrets: Inside the Black Hole – A Must-Read New Book

Posted on May 20, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

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Issue No. 433 Releases on May 20, 2026

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How Dark Matter Could Have Sparked the Formation of the Universe’s First Supermassive Black Hole

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

A groundbreaking study conducted by astronomers from the University of California, Riverside, Sam Houston State University, and the University of Oklahoma indicates that the collapse of dark matter may have significantly accelerated the collapse of early gas clouds, facilitating the rapid formation of supermassive black holes, contrary to existing theories.

Agarwal et al. revealed that the energy released from dark matter collapse significantly changed the chemistry of early galaxies, allowing for direct black hole formation. Image credit: Agarwal et al., doi: 10.1088/1475-7516/2026/04/034.

“Our findings suggest that dark matter collapse could drastically influence the evolution of the universe’s first stars and galaxies,” stated Yash Agarwal, a graduate student from the University of California, Riverside.

“As the James Webb Space Telescope uncovers more supermassive black holes from the early universe, this mechanism may help reconcile theory with observation.”

In their research, Agarwal and colleagues demonstrated that as dark matter—comprising approximately 85% of the universe’s unseen mass—decays, it releases a small fraction of energy that accelerates the decay of gas clouds.

Notably, each dark matter particle decaying only needs to “inject energy equivalent to one billionth that of a standard AA battery.”

“The primordial galaxies were essentially massive hydrogen gas balls, and their chemistry was extremely sensitive to atomic-scale energy fluctuations,” explained Dr. Flip Tanedo from the University of California, Riverside.

“These are characteristics we search for in dark matter detectors. The ‘detector’ properties could potentially explain the existence of supermassive black holes observed today.”

The team modeled the thermochemical dynamics of gas influenced by a decaying axion, uncovering a specific dark matter mass range between 24 and 27 electron volts, which creates conditions suitable for black hole formation.

“This research emerged from a series of fortunate events that united the right experts—including particle physicists, cosmologists, and astrophysicists—in workshops to address pivotal questions in the field,” Dr. Tanedo remarked.

“We’ve demonstrated that an optimal dark matter environment makes the direct collapse of black holes considerably more probable.”

“Additionally, support for interdisciplinary research allowed for the ‘serendipity’ that fueled this investigation.”

Read more about the study published on April 14, 2026, in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.

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Yash Agarwal et al. 2026. A black hole candidate that collapses directly from collapsing dark matter. JCAP 04:034; Doi: 10.1088/1475-7516/2026/04/034

Source: www.sci.news

VLT Unearths Third Gas Cloud Near Milky Way’s Central Black Hole

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered gas cloud, known as G2t, shares an almost identical orbit with two previously identified clouds, indicating that they may have originated from a pair of massive stars situated near the Milky Way’s core.

This VLT image illustrates the stars and gas surrounding Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Image credit: ESO/D. Ribeiro, MPE GC Team.

“This is a dynamic environment where stars and gas clouds orbiting the black hole move at astonishing speeds,” remarked Dr. Stefan Gillessen from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics.

“While the gas clouds G1 and G2 were previously known, their origins and compositions remained subjects of debate.”

“Specifically, questions arose about whether these clouds contained hidden stars or were purely gaseous.”

“With the identification of G2t, we are starting to unravel these mysteries.”

G2t was detected using the High-Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS) on the ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).

“Thanks to the VLT, we successfully measured the 3D orbit of this gas cloud around the black hole,” the team explained.

“G2t traverses a remarkably small area within this expansive image of the center.”

“Interestingly, G1, G2, and G2t are found to have nearly identical orbits, albeit slightly tilted in relation to one another.”

“The odds of different stars maintaining such similar orbits are minimal, further suggesting that each cloud does not harbor a star at its core.”

“These orbital similarities indicate that all three clouds likely stem from the same source, most probably IRS16SW, a pair of massive stars that discharge substantial quantities of gas.”

“As IRS16SW moves around the black hole, each gas cloud is ejected on a slightly different trajectory, explaining the subtle variations observed among the ‘G-triplets.’

“This finding highlights that despite years of observing our galaxy’s center, fresh enigmas await discovery,” the researchers noted.

“What could be more thrilling than a mystery poised to be unraveled?”

For more about this discovery, refer to the paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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S. Gillessen et al. 2026. Gas streamer G1-2-3 at the center of the galaxy. A&A 707, A79; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202555808

Source: www.sci.news

Unraveling Cosmic Mysteries: How a Unique Black Hole Could Solve Three Major Questions

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Deborah Ferguson (UT Austin), Bhavesh Khamesra (Georgia Tech), Karan Jani (Vanderbilt University)/LIGO

The universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, leaving scientists perplexed about the source of this mysterious phenomenon known as dark energy, which comprises approximately 68% of the universe. Understanding dark energy is a critical challenge for astrophysics today.

Interestingly, some astrophysicists propose a link between black holes and dark energy. Supermassive black holes exert an incredible gravitational pull, drawing in matter, yet the underlying question remains: how can they contribute to the expansion of the universe?

The theory suggests that when matter falls into black holes, it transforms into a type of radiation that exerts pressure on the surrounding space, leading to an expansive force. Although these effects are minuscule individually, the sheer number of black holes could result in a significant cumulative impact, pushing galaxies away from each other.

Initially regarded as a fringe theory, this idea has gained traction amongst cosmologists who believe it could help elucidate several cosmic mysteries. “It’s controversial, but it’s gaining acceptance,” stated Kevin Crocker, a cosmologist at Arizona State University.

According to Nyaesh Afsholdi, a cosmologist at the University of Waterloo, black holes could be pivotal in understanding dark energy, given their complexity and the unusual nature of their singularities.

Understanding Black Hole Singularity

At the center of each black hole lies the astrophysical singularity, where gravity compresses matter to infinite density—a realm of physics not yet fully understood. As Gregory Tarr, a cosmologist at the University of Michigan, suggests, black holes prevent singularities from forming by converting collapsing material into dark energy.

Tarr elaborates that this process is reminiscent of the early universe, where radiant energy transformed into matter. In a black hole, the reverse process could occur, maintaining gravitational stability.

“Understanding how a single dust particle converts to radiation is complex,” explains Massimiliano Rinaldi, a physicist at the University of Trento, Italy. Yet, this conceptual transition may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

This article is part of a special issue on the crisis in cosmology.
Check the complete package here

Traditionally, it was believed that black holes only influenced their immediate surroundings. However, as Croker points out, “It’s not just localized effects; the cumulative impact of numerous black holes can significantly alter cosmic dynamics.”

Even a large influx of matter into a single black hole may not propel universal expansion, but if black holes throughout the universe collectively absorb matter, their gravitational effects could accelerate cosmic inflation.

Evidencing Cosmologically Connected Black Holes

The first substantial evidence of cosmologically linked black holes emerged in 2023, suggesting mysterious expansions throughout the universe, aligning with observations of black holes maintaining growth relative to cosmic expansion. According to Crocker, despite their perceived dullness, even supermassive black holes actively participate in higher cosmic dynamics, as dark energy appears in tandem with their formation.

Critics argue that the precise behavior of these cosmologically connected black holes remains unknown. Rinaldi stresses the lack of exact mathematical models, complicating the understanding of their merger behaviors. However, as research progresses and new data emerges, hope for breakthroughs remains.

The evolution of this theory from fringe to mainstream reflects growing acceptance among cosmologists, especially in light of puzzling results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopy Instrument (DESI) in Arizona.

DESI Insights

DESI is mapping millions of galaxies across the universe, providing insights into cosmic expansion over time. Recent findings indicated that dark energy could be diminishing, challenging established cosmological models that assert its constancy. “Seeing such data was surprising,” remarked Tarr; “dark energy appears to vary over cosmic epochs.”

If dark energy originates from cosmologically linked black holes, the DESI observations reconcile several cosmic enigmas, aligning black hole formation trends with dark energy dynamics.

The interplay of dark matter and dark energy forms the framework of the universe.

Volker Springel/Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics/Scientific Photo Library

The Hubble tension, which highlights differing expansion rates derived from various cosmological measurements, underscores the need for clarity. Integrating cosmologically grouped black holes into current models could bridge gaps between conflicting data regarding cosmic expansion.

While numerous theories have attempted to address discrepancies surrounding dark energy, many rely on speculative elements beyond conventional physics. The concept of cosmologically connected black holes, however, remains a relatively conservative yet promising pathway to resolving ongoing mysteries.

Recent investigations by Tarr, Crocker, and colleagues have unveiled what they denote as a “three-legged chair” of evidence supporting their hypothesis, linking particle physics observations to cosmic expansion behaviors.

Neutrinos, often dubbed “ghost particles,” present a challenge in this model due to their elusive nature and negligible mass. Remarkably, if ordinary matter inside black holes can transform into dark energy, this might adjust the universal mass metrics, opening pathways for new discoveries.

Is this evidence sufficient to elevate the notion of cosmologically linked black holes from speculative to mainstream scientific theory? Crocker believes so: “We now possess three key pieces of evidence to lend credence to our hypothesis.”

Encouragingly, interest in this area of research is burgeoning, evidenced by the increased collaboration among physicists and cosmologists, underscoring the growing recognition of the potential importance of cosmologically connected black holes in the accelerating universe scenario.

As ongoing observations from DESI and other large-scale cosmic surveys yield fresh data, uncovering links between black holes and cosmic expansion continues to be a dynamic area of study. Nyaesh Afsholdi aptly characterizes this inquiry as a detective story, with more researchers joining the pursuit of understanding the enigmatic role black holes may play in the speeding expansion of our universe.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Supergiant Star Collapses into Stellar-Mass Black Hole in Andromeda Galaxy: A Remarkable Cosmic Event

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Utilizing archival data from NASA’s NEOWISE mission alongside information from various space and ground-based observatories, astronomers have uncovered a remarkable observational record of a massive star’s transition into a black hole—a phenomenon previously theorized but seldom witnessed.

The location and disappearance of M31-2014-DS1. Image credit: De et al., doi: 10.1126/science.adt4853.

In their final stages, massive stars often undergo instability, expanding and exhibiting significant fluctuations in brightness that can be observed by humans.

Typically, these stars meet their end in spectacular supernova explosions, which are incredibly luminous and readily detectable.

However, it is theorized that not all massive stars culminate in such explosive deaths.

In some cases, a star’s core collapses, causing the outer materials to fall inward, leading to the creation of a black hole.

These failed supernovae are particularly challenging to identify due to their weak energy signatures, often appearing as stars that simply vanish from sight.

Columbia University astronomer Kisharai De and colleagues leveraged lengthy infrared observations from the NEOWISE mission to investigate variable stars within the Andromeda Galaxy, leading to the discovery of the rare supergiant star M31-2014-DS1.

During 2014, this star brightened in mid-infrared light; however, from 2017 to 2022, it dimmed by around 10,000 times in optical light (rendering it undetectable) and about tenfold in total light.

Subsequent observations using Hubble and large terrestrial telescopes revealed faint red remnants detectable in near-infrared light, indicating the star is now heavily obscured by dust, or a shadow of its former supergiant self from years past.

Researchers interpret these findings as evidence of a failed supernova explosion, resulting in the birth of a stellar-mass black hole.

“The star’s dramatic and sustained dimming is extremely unusual, indicating the core did not explode as a supernova but collapsed directly into a black hole,” stated Dr. De.

“It was long assumed that stars of this mass always explode as supernovae.”

Their observations challenge the belief that stars of equivalent mass either necessarily explode or fail to do so, likely influenced by chaotic interactions between gravity, gas pressure, and powerful shockwaves within a dying star.

Dr. De and his fellow scientists identified M31-2014-DS1, another giant star that may have met a similar fate as NGC 6946-BH1.

This study advances our understanding of the fate of the star’s outer layers post-supernova failure and collapse into a black hole.

Interaction among these elements, particularly convection influenced by temperature variances within a star, plays a crucial role.

The internal regions are extremely hot compared to the cooler outer areas, resulting in gas movement from hotter to cooler zones.

Even after a star’s core collapse, gases in the outer layers continue to move rapidly due to convection currents.

Theoretical models suggest that these currents prevent most outer layers from plunging directly into the core. Instead, the innermost layer orbits the black hole, allowing for the ejection of the outermost layers in the convective region.

As the ejected material cools while moving from the surrounding heat of the black hole, it forms dust as atoms and molecules condense.

This dust obscures the hot gas orbiting the black hole, warming it and creating brightness observable at infrared wavelengths.

This lingering red glow remains visible long after the star has vanished.

“The accretion rate is significantly slower than if the stars collided directly,” asserted Andrea Antoni from the Flatiron Institute.

“This convective material possesses angular momentum, causing it to rotate in a circular motion around the black hole.”

“Consequently, the process takes decades instead of months or years to unfold.”

“All these factors contribute to a brighter source than otherwise anticipated, leading to a prolonged delay in the dimming of the original star.”

For further insights, refer to this paper. The findings are published in this week’s edition of Science.

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Kisharai De et al. (2026). Massive stars in the Andromeda Galaxy vanish due to black hole formation. Science 391(6786): 689-693; doi: 10.1126/science.adt4853

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Forces Behind Antarctica’s Gravitational Hole Uncovered by Earth Scientists

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

A groundbreaking study by geoscientists at the University of Florida and the Paris Institute of Geophysics reveals the origin of Earth’s most severe gravity anomaly, known as the Antarctic Gravity Hole (or Antarctic Geoid Depression). This anomaly is attributed to millions of years of slowed underground rock flow.

Evolution of the Antarctic geoid cyclone. Image credit: P. Glišović & AM Forte, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28606-1.

According to Professor Alessandro Forte from the University of Florida, gaining a better understanding of how Earth’s interior influences gravity and sea levels can shed light on factors essential for the growth and stability of significant ice sheets.

“Variations in gravity due to differences in rock density beneath the surface, although small in absolute terms, can have a substantial impact on ocean levels,” he explained.

“In regions of reduced gravity, water tends to flow toward areas of higher gravity, causing sea levels to be relatively lower in those spots.”

“As a result of the Antarctic gravity hole, the sea level around Antarctica is significantly lower than it would typically be.”

In this research, Professor Forte and Dr. Petar Grišović from the Paris Institute of Geophysics have meticulously mapped out the Antarctic geoid cyclone, revealing its development throughout the Cenozoic Era, spanning from 66 million years ago to the present day.

The team utilized a global scientific initiative that integrates seismic data and advanced modeling techniques to reconstruct the 3D structure of Earth’s interior.

“It’s like performing a CT scan of the planet without the use of conventional X-rays,” Forte remarked.

“Earthquakes generate seismic waves, which act as the ‘light’ that reveals Earth’s inner structure.”

The researchers successfully created a global gravity map that aligns closely with satellite data, validating their underlying model.

The next challenge involved reversing the geophysical clock to examine how the Antarctic geoid cyclone has evolved over millions of years.

By employing physics-based reconstructions and sophisticated computer models, they retraced geological changes spanning 70 million years.

These historical analyses indicate that the Antarctic geoid cyclone began in a relatively weak state.

From approximately 50 to 30 million years ago, however, the gravity hole began to strengthen, coinciding with significant shifts in Antarctica’s climatic conditions, including the onset of a global ice age.

“We aim to test the causal relationship between this intensified gravity hole and the Antarctic ice sheet. Our new modeling will connect changes in gravity, sea levels, and continental elevation,” stated Professor Forte.

This research seeks to answer pivotal questions about the interactions between our climate and the processes occurring within Earth.

For more details, refer to the study published in December 2025 in the journal Scientific Reports.

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P. Grišović and A.M. Forte. 2025. Cenozoic evolution of Earth’s strongest geoid low reveals the dynamics of the Antarctic subsurface mantle. Scientific Reports 15, 45749; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28606-1

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Unveils Milky Way’s Central Black Hole as a Compact Object of Fermion Dark Matter

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

For decades, the movement of stars near the center of our Milky Way galaxy has provided some of the most convincing evidence for the existence of a supermassive black hole. However, Dr. Valentina Crespi from the La Plata Institute of Astrophysics and her colleagues propose an innovative alternative: a compact object composed of self-gravitating fermion dark matter, which could equally explain the observed stellar motions.

A compact object made of self-gravitating fermion dark matter. Image credit: Gemini AI.

The prevailing theory attributes the observational orbits of a group of stars, known as the S stars, to Sagittarius A*, the supposed supermassive black hole at our galaxy’s center, which causes these stars to move at speeds of thousands of kilometers per second.

In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Crespi and her team propose that fermions—a specific type of dark matter made from light elementary particles—can form a distinct cosmic structure that aligns with our current understanding of the Milky Way’s core.

The hypothesis suggests the formation of an ultra-dense core surrounded by a vast, diffuse halo, functioning as a unified structure.

This dense core could replicate the gravitational effects of a black hole, thereby accounting for the orbits of S stars and nearby dusty objects known as G sources.

A vital aspect of this research includes recent data from ESA’s Gaia DR3 mission, which meticulously maps the Milky Way’s outer halo and reveals the orbital patterns of stars and gas far from the center.

The mission has documented a slowdown in the galaxy’s rotation curve, known as Keplerian decay, which can be reconciled with the outer halo of the dark matter model when combined with the standard disk and bulge components of normal matter.

This finding emphasizes significant structural differences, bolstering the validity of the fermion model.

While traditional cold dark matter halos spread in a “power law” fashion, the fermion model predicts a more compact halo structure with a tighter tail.

“This research marks the first instance where a dark matter model effectively connects vastly different scales and explains the orbits of various cosmic bodies, including contemporary rotation curves and central star data,” remarked Carlos Arguelles of the La Plata Astrophysics Institute.

“We are not merely substituting black holes for dark objects. Instead, we propose that supermassive centers and galactic dark matter halos represent two manifestations of a single continuum of matter.”

Importantly, the team’s fermion dark matter model has already undergone rigorous testing.

A recent 2024 survey demonstrated that as the accretion disk illuminates these dense dark matter cores, it produces shadow-like features reminiscent of those captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration at Sagittarius A*.

“This point is crucial. Our model not only elucidates stellar orbits and galactic rotation but also aligns with the famous ‘black hole shadow’ image,” stated Crespi.

“A dense dark matter core bends light to such an extent that it forms a central darkness encircled by a bright ring, creating an effect similar to shadows.”

Astronomers performed a statistical comparison of the fermion dark matter model against traditional black hole models.

While current data on internal stars cannot definitively distinguish between the two theories, the dark matter model offers a cohesive framework to elucidate both the galaxy’s center (encompassing the central star and shadow) and the galaxy at large.

“Gathering more precise data from instruments like the GRAVITY interferometer aboard ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile, and searching for specific features of the photon ring, an essential characteristic of black holes that are absent in the dark matter nuclear scenario, will be crucial for testing the predictions of this innovative model,” the authors noted.

“The results of these discoveries have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental nature of the Milky Way’s enigmatic core.”

The team’s research was published today in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

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V. Crespi et al. 2026. Dynamics of S stars and G sources orbiting supermassive compact objects made of fermion dark matter. MNRAS 546 (1): staf1854; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf1854

Source: www.sci.news

Exploring Ultra-High-Energy Neutrinos: A Potential Window into Primordial Black Hole Explosions

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Physicists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have proposed that the ultrahigh-energy neutrinos detected by the KM3NeT experiment may indicate an exploding “sub-extreme primordial black hole,” hinting at new physics beyond the Standard Model.

The KM3NeT experiment observed neutrinos with energies around 100 PeV, and IceCube detected five neutrinos exceeding 1 PeV. The explosion of a primordial black hole may account for these high-energy neutrinos. Image credit: Gemini AI.

Black holes are a well-understood phenomenon, originating when a massive star exhausts its fuel and undergoes a supernova explosion, resulting in a gravitational force strong enough to trap light. These traditional black holes are massive and relatively stable.

However, as noted by physicist Stephen Hawking in 1970, primordial black holes potentially formed not from stars, but from the universe’s primordial conditions following the Big Bang.

Theoretical in nature, primordial black holes are dense enough that light cannot escape. Surprisingly, they are expected to be significantly lighter than the black holes observed to date.

Hawking also demonstrated that when these primordial black holes heat up, they emit particles through a phenomenon known as Hawking radiation.

“The lighter the black hole, the hotter it becomes, leading to increased particle emission,” explained Dr. Andrea Tam, a physicist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“As a primordial black hole evaporates, it becomes lighter and hotter, releasing even more radiation during the explosive process.”

“What our telescope detects is, in fact, Hawking radiation.”

“If we were to witness such an explosion, we would create a comprehensive catalog of all elementary particles in existence, confirming both known particles, like electrons and quarks, and those not yet observed, including hypothesized dark matter particles.”

In 2023, the KM3NeT experiment successfully detected this elusive neutrino—a result Dr. Tam and his team had anticipated.

However, a challenge arose from the IceCube experiment, which failed to record similar phenomena or approach even a fraction of KM3NeT’s findings.

If primordial black holes are prevalent and detonating often, why are we not inundated with high-energy neutrinos? What could explain this inconsistency?

Dr. Joaquín Iguazu Juan, a physicist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, suggested, “We believe a primordial black hole with a ‘dark charge’, termed a quasi-extreme primordial black hole, could bridge this gap.”

“Dark charge mimics standard electric force but features a heavy hypothesized electron, the dark electron.”

Dr. Michael Baker, also from UMass Amherst, remarked, “Our dark charge model is complex but may provide a more accurate depiction of reality.”

“It’s remarkable that our model explains this previously unexplainable phenomenon.”

Dr. Tam added, “Dark-charged primordial black holes possess unique properties that differentiate them from simpler primordial black hole models, allowing us to resolve all conflicting experimental data.”

The research team is optimistic that their dark charge model not only elucidates neutrino observations but also addresses the enigma of dark matter.

“Observations of galaxies and the cosmic microwave background imply the existence of some form of dark matter,” explained Baker.

“If our dark charge hypothesis holds, it could suggest a considerable number of primordial black holes, aligning with other astrophysical observations and accounting for the universe’s missing dark matter,” Dr. Iguazu-Juan stated.

“The detection of high-energy neutrinos represents a significant breakthrough,” remarked Baker.

“It opens a new window into the universe, enabling us to empirically verify Hawking radiation, gather evidence of primordial black holes, and explore particles beyond the Standard Model, while inching closer to solving the dark matter mystery.”

For more details, see the findings published in Physical Review Letters.

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Michael J. Baker and colleagues. We explain the PeV neutrino flux in KM3NeT and IceCube with quasi-extreme primordial black holes. Physics. Pastor Rhett, published online December 18, 2025. doi: 10.1103/r793-p7ct

Source: www.sci.news

Revolutionary Cosmological Simulations Illuminate Black Hole Growth in the Early Universe

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Revolutionary simulations from Maynooth University astronomers reveal that, at the onset of the dense and turbulent universe, “light seed” black holes could swiftly consume matter, rivaling the supermassive black holes found at the centers of early galaxies.

Computer visualization of a baby black hole growing in an early universe galaxy. Image credit: Maynooth University.

Dr. Daksar Mehta, a candidate at Maynooth University, stated: “Our findings indicate that the chaotic environment of the early universe spawned smaller black holes that underwent a feeding frenzy, consuming surrounding matter and eventually evolving into the supermassive black holes observed today.”

“Through advanced computer simulations, we illustrate that the first-generation black holes, created mere hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, expanded at astonishing rates, reaching sizes up to tens of thousands of times that of the Sun.”

Dr. Louis Prowl, a postdoctoral researcher at Maynooth University, added: “This groundbreaking revelation addresses one of astronomy’s most perplexing mysteries.”

“It explains how black holes formed in the early universe could quickly attain supermassive sizes, as confirmed by observations from NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope.”

The dense, gas-rich environments of early galaxies facilitated brief episodes of “super-Eddington accretion,” a phenomenon where black holes consume matter at a rate faster than the norm.

Despite this rapid consumption, the black holes continue to devour material effectively.

The results uncover a pivotal “missing link” between the first stars and the immense black holes that emerged later on.

Mehta elaborated: “These smaller black holes were previously considered too insignificant to develop into the gigantic black holes at the centers of early galaxies.”

“What we have demonstrated is that, although these nascent black holes are small, they can grow surprisingly quickly under the right atmospheric conditions.”

There are two classifications of black holes: “heavy seed” and “light seed.”

Light seed black holes start with a mass of only a few hundred solar masses and must grow significantly to transform into supermassive entities, millions of times the mass of the Sun.

Conversely, heavy seed black holes begin life with masses reaching up to 100,000 times that of the Sun.

Previously, many astronomers believed that only heavy seed types could account for the existence of supermassive black holes seen at the hearts of large galaxies.

Dr. John Regan, an astronomer at Maynooth University, remarked: “The situation is now more uncertain.”

“Heavy seeds may be rare and depend on unique conditions for formation.”

“Our simulations indicate that ‘garden-type’ stellar-mass black holes have the potential to grow at extreme rates during the early universe.”

This research not only reshapes our understanding of black hole origins but also underscores the significance of high-resolution simulations in uncovering the universe’s fundamental secrets.

“The early universe was far more chaotic and turbulent than previously anticipated, and the population of supermassive black holes is also more extensive than we thought,” Dr. Regan commented.

The findings hold relevance for the ESA/NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, set to launch in 2035.

Dr. Regan added, “Future gravitational wave observations from this mission may detect mergers of these small, rapidly growing baby black holes.”

For further insights, refer to this paper, published in this week’s edition of Nature Astronomy.

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D.H. Meter et al. Growth of light seed black holes in the early universe. Nat Astron published online on January 21, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02767-5

Source: www.sci.news

Review of ‘A Hole in the Sky’: Peter F. Hamilton’s Sci-Fi Epic with a Notable Flaw

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

A Hole in the Sky is narrated through the eyes of 16-year-old Hazel

Adam Selva/Alamy

Dark silhouette of a girl in a dress against the backdrop of mysterious deep space — A Hole in the Sky is narrated through the eyes of 16-year-old Hazel

Adam Selva/Alamy

Empty Hole
Peter F. Hamilton – Angry Robot

As an avid admirer of Peter F. Hamilton, I eagerly anticipated his latest release, Empty Hole, particularly because I’ve always been fascinated by the Ark story.

Centuries have elapsed since the ship’s voyage, and its crew has devolved into a medieval-like society, residing beneath the remnants of their ancestors’ advanced technology. We uncover the challenges they encountered, including issues with the planet they were meant to land on, and a rebellious uprising on board that stranded them in perilous circumstances. At the age of 65, inhabitants must be recycled for the ship. This unique premise captivates me completely.

All of this is framed from Hazel’s first-person viewpoint, a 16-year-old girl. A significant breach exists in the ship’s hull (hence the title), she battles intense headaches, and soon finds herself ensnared in a whirlwind of dramatic events. Yet she finds time to fret about boys and garments, which I couldn’t afford. Why would a girl focus on fashion when the survival of everyone in a spaceship is at stake, and she is constantly plagued by headaches?

As fans may know, Hamilton is a master storyteller renowned for his contributions to big science fiction. My personal favorites include Empty Space and the Dawn trilogy, as well as his intricate and thrilling Commonwealth Saga duology. His narratives are dynamic, wildly innovative, and filled with complexities that often leave me thrilled, even if I don’t fully grasp every detail.

I had reservations about Hamilton’s more recent works, like Exodus: Archimedes Engine, which ties into the upcoming video game, Exodus. I felt certain plotlines were included solely to promote the game, detracting from the reader’s enjoyment. However, I appreciate that these works may not target my demographic. It’s evident the seasoned author is seeking new challenges. (For those who enjoy video game adaptations, the second installment in the game series will be released later this year and the game is set to debut in 2027.)

“
If I were a movie or TV scout, I could envision Empty Hole adapting beautifully for the screen.
“

All this reminds me of Empty Hole. Midway through, I realized it seemed somewhat juvenile, for want of a better term. Research revealed that this novel was initially released as an audio-only book in 2021, primarily categorized as “young adult” or targeted towards teenagers.

In a 2020 interview, Hamilton expressed, “Though young adults as protagonists define a particular publishing category, I hope this work will resonate with audiences of all ages.” Personally, I don’t believe that a youthful protagonist excludes the potential for an adult-oriented book. (I mention this as a writer of novels featuring teenage lead characters.) So, can readers of all ages enjoy this book?

The plot setup and twists are stellar, as expected from Hamilton. However, I wish he had toned down the “teenage” aspects. I don’t require an interlude where she holds her boyfriend’s hand while my hero is fleeing danger. I believe that making the protagonist face the reality of being recycled at 65 would have added significant weight.

Perhaps Hamilton will capture a fresh audience with this release. For instance, as a movie or TV scout, I could envision how Empty Hole would look great on screen. This title is the first in a trilogy, with sequels slated for release in June and December. As I highlighted in my preview of new science fiction releases for 2026, this rapid schedule is unusual, and I’m excited to see how it unfolds.

I also recommend Emily…

Pandora’s Star
Peter F. Hamilton – Pan Macmillan

If you’re yet to experience Hamilton’s classic works, there are various entry points into the remarkable worlds he has created. I recommend Pandora’s Star and its sequel, Judas Unchained, as excellent beginnings. If “epic space opera” resonates with you, these novels are likely a perfect match.

Emily H. Wilson is a former editor of New Scientist and author of Sumerian, a trilogy set in ancient Mesopotamia. The final book in the series, Ninchevar, is currently available. You can find her at emilywilson.com, or follow her on X @emilyhwilson and Instagram @emilyhwilson1.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Astrophysicists Discover ‘Little Red Dot’ as Early Universe’s Young Supermassive Black Hole

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Astrophysicists from the University of Copenhagen have discovered that the enigmatic “little red dots” visible in images of the early universe are rapidly growing black holes shrouded in ionized gas. This groundbreaking finding offers significant insights into the formation of supermassive black holes after the Big Bang.

The small red dot is a young supermassive black hole encased in a dense ionized cocoon. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / Rusakov et al., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09900-4.

Since the launch of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope in 2021, astronomers globally have been studying the red spots that appear in regions of the sky corresponding to the universe just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.

Initial interpretations ranged from unusually massive early galaxies to unique astrophysical phenomena that challenged existing formation models.

However, after two years of extensive analysis, Professor Darach Watson and his team from the University of Copenhagen have confirmed that these points represent young black holes surrounded by a thick cocoon of ionized gas.

As these black holes consume surrounding matter, the resulting heat emits powerful radiation that penetrates the gas, creating a striking red glow captured by Webb’s advanced infrared camera.

“The little red dot is a young black hole, approximately 100 times less massive than previously estimated, encased in a gas cocoon and actively consuming gas to expand,” stated Professor Watson.

“This process generates substantial heat, illuminating the cocoon.”

“The radiation that filters through the cocoon provides these tiny red dots with their distinctive color.”

“These black holes are significantly smaller than previously thought, so there’s no need to introduce entirely new phenomena to explain them.”

Despite being the smallest black holes ever detected, these objects still weigh up to 10 million times more than the Sun and measure millions of kilometers in diameter, shedding light on how black holes accelerated their growth during the early universe.

Black holes typically operate inefficiently, as only a small fraction of the gas they attract crosses the event horizon. Much is blown back into space as high-energy outflows.

However, during this early phase, the surrounding gas cocoon serves as both a fuel source and a spotlight, enabling astronomers to observe a black hole in intense growth like never before.

This discovery is crucial for understanding how supermassive black holes, such as the one at the center of the Milky Way, grew so quickly in the universe’s first billion years.

“We observed a young black hole in a growth spurt at a stage never documented before,” Professor Watson remarked.

“The gas-dense cocoon around them supplies the rapid growth fuel they require.”

For more details, see the findings featured in this week’s edition of Nature.

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V. Rusakov et al. 2026. A small red dot like a young supermassive black hole inside a dense ionized cocoon. Nature 649, 574-579; doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09900-4

Source: www.sci.news

Exploring the Distant ‘Little Red Dot’ Galaxy: Possible Discovery of a Baby Black Hole

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Exploring ‘Small Red Dots’ Unveiled by the James Webb Space Telescope

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and D. Kocevski (Colby U.)/Space Telescope Science Institute Public Extension Office

James Webb Space Telescope red galaxy discovery — Exploring ‘Small Red Dots’ Unveiled by the James Webb Space Telescope

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and D. Kocevski (Colby U.)/Space Telescope Science Institute Public Extension Office

The remarkable bright galaxies uncovered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may not be as brilliant as initially thought. These celestial bodies once posed a challenge to our cosmic understanding, implying they were home to supermassive black holes and an unexpected abundance of stars. However, new insights suggest these galaxies may harbor “baby” black holes.

During its initial years surveying the early Universe, JWST serendipitously discovered numerous bright and red galaxies, referred to as “little red dots” (LRDs).

The light emitted by these galaxies indicates the presence of far more mass than previously recognized in any other galaxy. They exhibit star densities that challenge existing models or host black holes larger than expected considering the size of their parent galaxies.

Both scenarios would necessitate a substantial overhaul of our galaxy formation and black hole growth theories in the early Universe.

Initial assumptions posited that the red hue of LRDs was due to copious dust surrounding the black holes or stars. This notion has come under scrutiny, as researchers find little evidence of dust in these extraordinary galaxies.

Jenny Green, a researcher at Princeton University, posits that this discovery warrants a reevaluation of LRD characteristics. “We were confident that if red coloration was due to dust, we’d detect dust emissions. However, we found none,” Green stated. “This suggests our initial assumption about their dust content was flawed.”

Previous analyses gauged the total brightness of the LRDs by assessing specific wavelengths of light linked to hydrogen, calibrated against a model of how dust impacts this light.

In their recent study, Green and her team measured the total light output from two LRD galaxies across various light frequencies, including X-rays and infrared. They discovered that, except for visible light, these galaxies emitted significantly less light than the typical galaxy—implying that LRDs are at least ten times dimmer than earlier estimates. This revelation holds critical implications for the nature of black holes within LRDs.

“If the emitted light is substantially less than we’ve believed, the mass of the black holes is likely much more modest,” Green remarked. “This reduces the tensions that have perplexed us since the black holes no longer need to be exceedingly massive or possess substantial mass initially.”

The new emission patterns imply the black holes may harbor less mass compared to standard black holes. Rohan Naidu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology describes them as “baby black holes.” He further noted these findings align with the emerging perspective that LRD black holes could be categorized as black hole stars—a unique type of black hole encased in gas.

“In a typical black hole, what we observe is merely a fraction of the total energy emitted by the system. However, we should reconsider the little red dots as bulging black hole stars,” Naidu explained. “Most of their energy appears to be emitted at wavelengths we can detect, suggesting that what we see accurately reflects their output.”

Conversely, Roberto Maiorino from the University of Cambridge emphasizes that one cannot definitively ascertain the black hole’s mass within an LRD, as the emitted light reveals its growth rate rather than its total mass.

Green asserts that the notion of baby black holes holds merit. “If the photon count is significantly lower,” she noted, “this indicates a downward shift in the entire mass scale. On average, they possess lesser masses than previously assumed when we incorrectly categorized them as regular accreting black holes enshrouded in dust.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Stellar-Mass Black Hole Triggers Record-Breaking Cosmic Burst by Collapsing Companion Star

Posted on December 17, 2025 by

Astronomers have utilized data gathered from a network of space and terrestrial telescopes to identify AT 2024wpp, the most radiant blue light transient (LFBOT) ever recorded. These uncommon, ephemeral, and exceedingly luminous outbursts have perplexed scientists for a decade, but the extraordinary brightness and comprehensive multiwavelength data from AT 2024wpp indicate that they cannot be attributed to typical stellar explosions such as supernovae. Instead, recent observations reveal that AT 2024wpp was generated by an extreme tidal disruption event, where a black hole, with a mass approximately 100 times that of the Sun, dismantles a massive companion star over the course of just a few days, converting a significant portion of the star’s mass into energy.

This composite image contains X-ray and optical data for the LFBOT event at 2024wpp. Image credits: NASA / CXC / University of California, Berkeley / Nayana others. / Legacy Survey / DECaLS / BASS / MzLS / SAO / P. Edmonds / N. Walk.

LFBOTs derive their name from their intense brightness, being visible from hundreds of millions to billions of light years away, and their ephemeral nature, lasting merely a few days.

They emit high-energy light across the blue spectrum into ultraviolet and X-rays.

The inaugural observation was made in 2014, but the first LFBOT with sufficient data for analysis was recorded in 2018, termed AT 2018cow, in accordance with standard naming conventions.

Researchers nicknamed it “cow”, alongside other LFBOTs dubbed “tongue-twisted koala” (ZTF18abvkwla), “Tasmanian devil” (AT 2022tsd), and “finch” (AT 2023fhn). AT 2024wpp is likely to be known as Wasp.

Researchers determined that AT 2024wpp was not a supernova after assessing the energy output of the phenomenon.

The energy was found to be 100 times greater than that produced by typical supernovae.

The emitted energy must convert roughly 10% of the Sun’s rest mass into energy over a brief period of weeks.

Specifically, observations from Gemini South disclosed excess near-infrared radiation emitted by a luminous source.

This marks the second instance astronomers have witnessed such an occurrence, with the first being AT 2018cow, which seemingly doesn’t occur in regular stellar explosions.

These observations establish near-infrared excess as a defining characteristic of FBOT, yet no model can adequately explain it.

“The energy released by these bursts is so immense that it cannot be accounted for by a nuclear collapse or any typical stellar explosion,” stated Nathalie LeBaron, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley.

“The main takeaway from AT 2024wpp is that the model we initially proposed is incorrect. This is definitely not an ordinary exploding star.”

Scientists suggest that the intense high-energy light emitted during this extreme tidal disruption stems from the black hole binary system’s prolonged parasitic behavior.

As they piece together this history, it appears the black hole has been gradually siphoning material from its companion star, enveloping itself in a ring of material too distant to be consumed.

Subsequently, when the companion star ventured too near and was shredded, the new material became ensnared in a rotating accretion disk, colliding with pre-existing material and releasing X-rays, ultraviolet light, and blue radiation.

Much of the gas from the companion star ended up spiraling toward the black hole’s poles, where it was expelled as material jets.

Authors calculated that the jet was traveling at about 40% the speed of light and emitted radio waves upon interacting with surrounding gas.

Similar to most LFBOTs, AT 2024wpp is situated in a galaxy characterized by active star formation, making the presence of large stars likely.

Located 1.1 billion light years away, AT 2024wpp is 5 to 10 times more brilliant than AT 2018cow.

The companion star that was torn apart was estimated to be over 10 times the mass of the Sun.

“It may have been what is referred to as a Wolf-Rayet star, a very hot evolved star that has depleted much of its hydrogen,” remarked the astronomers.

“This would account for the weak hydrogen emission observed from AT 2024wpp.”

The findings are published in two papers: Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Natalie LeBaron others. 2025. Brightest known fast blue light transient AT 2024wpp: unprecedented evolution and properties from ultraviolet to near-infrared. APJL in press. arXiv: 2509.00951

AJ Nayana others. 2025. Brightest known fast blue light transient AT 2024wpp: unprecedented evolution and properties in X-rays and radio. APJL in press. arXiv: 2509.00952

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Uncover Strange Explosion from the Supermassive Black Hole in NGC 3783

Posted on December 10, 2025 by

Utilizing ESA’s XMM-Newton along with the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM)—a collaborative endeavor led by JAXA, ESA, and NASA—astronomers detected an ultrafast outflow from the supermassive black hole in NGC 3783, moving at 19% the speed of light (57,000 km/s).

An artist’s conception of NGC 3783’s wind-blown supermassive black hole. Image credit: ESA/ATG Europe.

NGC 3783 is a luminous barred spiral galaxy located about 135 million light-years away in the Centaurus constellation.

This galaxy was initially discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on April 21, 1835.

Also referred to as ESO 378-14, LEDA 36101, or 2XMM J113901.7-374418, it is a prominent member of the NGC 3783 group, which contains 47 galaxies.

NGC 3783 hosts a rapidly rotating supermassive black hole with a mass of 2.8 million solar masses.

“We have never witnessed a black hole producing winds at such speeds before,” stated Dr. Li Gu, an astronomer at the Netherlands Space Research Organization (SRON).

“Swift bursts of X-ray light from a black hole immediately provoke superfast winds, and for the first time, we observe how these winds develop within just a day.”

During 10 days of observations, mainly using the XRISM space telescope, astronomers monitored the emergence and acceleration of a burst from NGC 3783’s supermassive black hole.

While such explosions are typically attributed to intense radiation, in this instance, the likely cause is a sudden shift in the magnetic field, akin to solar flares caused by the Sun’s outbursts.

It is known that supermassive black holes emit X-rays, but this marks the first occasion where astronomers have distinctly observed rapid ejections during these X-ray bursts.

This finding emerged from the longest continuous observation conducted by XRISM to date.

Over these 10 days, scientists noted fluctuations in the brightness of the X-rays, particularly within the soft X-ray band.

Such fluctuations, including explosions lasting three days, are not uncommon for supermassive black holes.

What sets this explosion apart is the simultaneous expulsion of gas from the black hole’s accretion disk—a swirling disc of matter in orbit around the black hole.

This gas was expelled at astonishing speeds, hitting 57,000 km/s, or 19% of the speed of light.

Researchers identified the origin of this gas as a region approximately 50 times larger than the black hole itself.

Within this chaotic region, gravitational and magnetic forces are in extreme interaction.

The emission is believed to be the result of a phenomenon known as magnetic reconnection, which occurs when the magnetic field rapidly reorganizes and releases vast amounts of energy.

“This is an unparalleled opportunity to explore the mechanisms behind ultrafast ejections,” Dr. Gu remarked.

“The data indicate that magnetic forces, resembling those involved in coronal mass ejections from the Sun, are responsible for the acceleration of the outflow.”

“A coronal mass ejection occurs when a hefty plume of hot solar plasma is hurled into space.”

“In contrast, supermassive black holes can produce similar events, but these eruptions are 10 billion times more potent and far smaller than solar phenomena we’ve observed.”

Scientists propose that the black hole activity observed may mirror its solar counterpart, driven by an abrupt burst of magnetic energy.

This challenges the widely-held theory that black holes expel matter predominantly through intense radiation or extreme heat.

These findings provide fresh insights into how black holes not only consume matter but can also expel it back into space under specific conditions.

This feedback process plays a critical role in galaxy evolution, affecting nearby stars and gas and potentially contributing to the structure of the universe as we know it.

“This discovery highlights the effective collaboration that underpins all ESA missions,” noted XMM-Newton project scientist and ESA astronomer Dr. Eric Courkers.

“By focusing on an active supermassive black hole, the two telescopes unveiled something unprecedented: rapid, ultrafast flare-induced winds similar to those generated by the Sun.”

“Interestingly, this suggests that solar physics and high-energy physics may operate in surprisingly similar fashions throughout the universe.”

The team’s paper was published in the December 9, 2025 issue of the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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Gu Lee Yi et al. 2025. Investigating NGC 3783 with XRISM. III. Emergence of ultra-high-speed outflow during soft flares. A&A 704, A146; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202557189

Source: www.sci.news

Most Intense Black Hole Flare Recorded as Massive Star Gets Torn Apart

Posted on November 4, 2025 by

A supermassive black hole in the process of engulfing a massive star

California Institute of Technology/R. Hurt (IPAC)

Astronomers have made an astounding discovery of the brightest flare ever observed from a supermassive black hole. This flare was so intense that it can only be attributed to a tidal disruption event (TDE), where a colossal star was torn apart by a distant galaxy’s black hole, unleashing an extraordinary burst of energy that is still resonating.

Originating from an active galactic nucleus (AGN) — a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy consuming matter — this event is approximately 20 billion light-years from Earth, marking it as one of the most distant TDEs recorded. Notably, many TDEs remain undetected in AGNs due to the fluctuating brightness near these active black holes, which obscures the distinction between a TDE and other phenomena.

“For the last 60 years, we have understood AGNs to be highly volatile, but we lacked clarity about their variability,” explains Matthew Graham from the California Institute of Technology. “Currently, we are aware of millions of AGNs, yet their variability remains largely a mystery.” The event, dubbed “Superman” due to its remarkable brightness, holds the potential to unravel some of these cosmic enigmas.

Initially identified in 2018, astronomers speculated that Superman might merely be a bright explosion from a relatively nearby galaxy. It wasn’t until 2023 that subsequent observations unveiled its true distance and revealed that its brightness was significantly more intense than initially estimated.

This first flare enhanced AGN visibility to over 40 times greater and was 30 times more powerful than any other flare recorded from AGN. Graham and his research team concluded that the most plausible explanation is the disintegration of a massive star, possibly over 30 times the mass of the Sun.

All active supermassive black holes are surrounded by a region of infalling material known as an accretion disk. The matter density in this area is expected to yield substantial stars, although they have never been directly observed. “If our interpretation of this as a TDE is correct, it substantiates our hypothesis regarding the existence of these massive stars in such environments,” noted Graham.

“We once believed that active supermassive black holes simply housed gas disks that meandered about. However, this scenario is much more dynamic and active,” he adds. By examining the fading Superman, we may uncover a deeper understanding of its environment.

Moreover, it may lead to the establishment of a model for TDEs in AGNs, enhancing future detection efforts. “When a potential TDE is identified in an AGN, it remains uncertain whether it is merely an active galactic nucleus or if a true TDE is occurring, so having such unambiguous evidence is invaluable,” states Vivian Baldassare from Washington State University. “This will greatly aid in revealing future TDEs and understanding various AGN variability sources.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists Discover Largest Black Hole Flare Ever Recorded, Emitting 10 Trillion Solar Rays

Posted on November 4, 2025 by

A supermassive black hole has violently consumed a massive star, resulting in a cosmic explosion that shone as brightly as 10 trillion suns, according to a recent study.

This event, referred to as a black hole flare, is believed to be the largest and most remote ever detected.

“This is genuinely a one-in-a-million occurrence,” stated Matthew Graham, a research professor of astronomy at the California Institute of Technology and the lead author of the study published Tuesday in Nature Astronomy.

Graham indicated that based on the explosion’s intensity and duration, a black hole flare is likely the explanation, but further studies will be necessary to validate this conclusion.

While it is common for black holes to devour nearby stars, gas, dust, and other materials, such significant flare events are exceptionally rare, according to Graham.

“This enormous flare is far more energetic than anything we’ve encountered previously,” he remarked, noting that the explosion’s peak luminosity was 30 times that of any black hole flare documented so far.

Its extreme intensity is partly due to the massive size of the celestial objects involved. The star that came too close to the black hole is estimated to possess at least 30 times the mass of the Sun, while the supermassive black hole and its surrounding matter disk are estimated to be 500 million times more massive than the Sun.

Graham mentioned that these powerful explosions have persisted for more than seven years and are likely still ongoing.

The flare was initially detected in 2018 during a comprehensive sky survey using three ground-based telescopes. At the time, it was identified as a “particularly bright object,” but follow-up observations months later yielded little valuable data.

Consequently, black hole flares were mostly overlooked until 2023, when Graham and his team opted to revisit some intriguing findings from their earlier research. Astronomers have since managed to roughly ascertain the distance to this exceptionally bright object, and the results were astonishing.

“Suddenly, I thought, ‘Wow, this is actually quite far away,'” Graham explained. “And if it’s this far away and this bright, how much energy is it emitting? This is both unusual and intriguing.”

While the exact circumstances of the star’s demise remain unclear, Graham hypothesized that a cosmic collision might have nudged the star from its typical orbit around the black hole, leading to a close encounter.

This finding enhances our understanding of black hole behavior and evolution.

“Our perspective on supermassive black holes and their environments has dramatically transformed over the past five to ten years,” Graham stated. “We once pictured most galaxies in the universe with a supermassive black hole at the center, idly rumbling away. We now recognize it as a much more dynamic setting, and we are just beginning to explore its complexities.”

He noted that while the flares are gradually diminishing over time, they will remain detectable with ground-based telescopes for several more years.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Astronomers Discover Unexpectedly Large Black Hole in Nearby Diminutive Galaxy

Posted on October 30, 2025 by

Remarkably, Segue 1, an extremely faint dwarf galaxy, is positioned at the center of this image.

CDS, Strasbourg, France/CDS/Aladdin

Astoundingly, a supermassive black hole appears to reside at the heart of a nearby galaxy previously believed to be dominated by dark matter. Segue 1 is scarcely a galaxy, hosting merely around 1,000 stars compared to the Milky Way’s vast hundreds of billions. Yet, it seemingly contains a black hole with a mass approximately 10 times greater than the combined total of all its stars.

Segue 1 and similar dwarf galaxies lack sufficient stars to generate the gravitational force needed to hold them intact. To address this anomaly, physicists have long speculated that dark matter—a mysterious, invisible substance—fills the universe, contributing additional gravity.

Recently, Nathaniel Lujan and colleagues at the University of Texas at San Antonio began exploring computer models of Segue 1. They anticipated that the model yielding the best fit would be one characterized by dark matter. “After running hundreds of thousands of models, we were unable to find a viable solution,” Lujan remarks. “Eventually, we decided to experiment with the black hole mass, and that dramatically changed the results.”

The model that closely aligned with the observations of Segue 1 featured a black hole with a mass around 450,000 times that of the Sun. This discovery was particularly unexpected—not only due to the galaxy’s scarcity of stars but also considering its age. With so few stars, Segue 1 is estimated to have formed merely 400 million years following the universe’s initial star formation. Time constraints make it challenging for such a massive black hole to develop, especially since the much larger Milky Way likely consumed most of the gas that could have nourished Segue 1 shortly after its inception.

“This suggests there may be far more supermassive black holes than previously assumed,” Lujan states. If true, this could clarify some of the gravitational effects formerly attributed to dark matter, though it remains uncertain whether Segue 1 is typical of all dwarf galaxies. The quest for additional supermassive black holes continues.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Black Hole Devoured a Star and Then Disappeared.

Posted on October 13, 2025 by

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.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Is the Universe Just One Massive Black Hole?

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Is this an example of the entire universe?

alamy

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.

Jonas Enander is a Swedish science writer with a PhD in physics. His newly released book Infinites Faced: Black Holes and Our Places on Earth (Atlantic Books/The Experiment, 2025) examines the impact of black holes both universally and on humanity. To delve further into these ideas, he created a video narrating the story using light blue illustrations.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Unveil Stunning Image of the M87 Black Hole Jet

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.

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Our Universe Might Be Enclosed Within a Black Hole

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Sagittarius A*: Detection of Hot Gas Emitted from a Black Hole Confirmed

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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&amp;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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Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Uncover the Most Distant Black Hole Ever Detected

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.

____

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

Source: www.sci.news

Gravitational Waves Confirm Stephen Hawking’s Black Hole Theory

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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Illustration of two black holes merging and emitting gravitational waves throughout the universe

Maggie Chiang from the Simons Foundation

SEI 265464289 — 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

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Discovering a New Type of Black Hole: Insights from Mirror Technology and Insect-Inspired AI

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Discovered the Largest Black Hole in the Universe to Date

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists Suggest a Black Hole 300 Million Times the Sun’s Size Could Be a Gateway to the Universe’s Dawn.

Posted on August 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

We Uncovered the Largest Black Hole Ever Found

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Observations Indicate OJ 287 Galaxy May Host an Ultra-Massive Black Hole Binary at Its Core

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.

____

E. Traianou et al. 2025. Reveal ribbon-like jets on OJ 287 via Radioastron. A&A 700, A16; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202554929

Source: www.sci.news

Intermediate-Mass Black Hole Devours Stars in NGC 6099

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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.

____

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

Source: www.sci.news

Astrophysicists Identify Gravitational Waves from the Largest Black Hole Mergers Recorded to Date

Posted on July 16, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

Source: www.sci.news

LIGO Uncovers the Most Massive Black Hole Collision Ever Recorded

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of black hole merger

Shutterstock / Jurik Peter

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.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Bright Seifert Galaxy’s Ultra-Massive Black Hole Exhibits Signs of “Overeating”

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

Source: www.sci.news

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