Articles tagged with Black Holes
Astronomers have used X-ray reverberation mapping to map the flow of gas near a newly awakened black hole for the first time. The study provides insights into the 'killer' black hole's hidden structures, revealing high-energy X-rays originate from a compact region near the black hole.
Astronomers discovered that magnetic instabilities in black hole jets determine their fate. Powerful jets can punch through surrounding gas into intergalactic space, while unstable ones fall apart and deposit energy within the galaxy.
The second detection of gravitational waves from merging black holes is a significant milestone in the development of physics. Scientists have found that the observed gravity waves were generated by two black holes with masses of 14 and 8 solar masses, which merged to form a single rotating black hole.
Researchers found that supermassive black holes at galaxy centers are likely to have weaker gravitational fields, making them harder to detect. This challenges previous assumptions about the detection of gravitational waves from merging galaxies.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory has detected a second pair of colliding black holes, validating the landmark discovery from earlier this year. RIT scientists played a crucial role in identifying and analyzing the gravitational wave signal, revealing diverse sizes and spins among black holes in the universe.
A Johns Hopkins team proposes a solution to the dark matter mystery by suggesting that black hole binaries detected by LIGO may be a signature of primordial black holes. The team's calculations match the predicted mass range for these mysterious objects, making them a plausible candidate for dark matter.
The detection confirms the existence of binary black holes with a range of masses, forming from different stars. The event provides valuable data on gravitational waves and the nature of gravity, shedding light on the universe's most violent cosmic events.
Astrophysicists at Northwestern University predict that LIGO's first detection of merging black holes could have been formed through dynamic interactions in the star-dense core of an old globular cluster. The theory, known as dynamical formation, is one of two recognized main channels for forming binary black holes detected by LIGO.
For the second time, scientists have detected gravitational waves, which provide information about their origins and gravity's nature. The event involved two smaller black holes that merged to form a more massive spinning black hole.
A team of astronomers used ALMA to observe a cluster of towering intergalactic gas clouds raining in on the supermassive black hole at the center of an elliptical galaxy. The new findings reshape our understanding of how supermassive black holes feed, revealing a previously unknown process known as cold, chaotic accretion.
A new ALMA observation reveals that cold dense clouds can coalesce from hot intergalactic gas and feed a galaxy's central supermassive black hole. This challenges previous views of how supermassive black holes acquire mass, indicating a chaotic and dynamic feeding process.
For the first time, astronomers have detected billowy clouds of cold, clumpy gas streaming towards a supermassive black hole at speeds of up to 800,000 miles per hour. The observation provides direct evidence to support the theory that black holes feed on clouds of cold gas.
Researchers detected billowy clouds of cold, clumpy gas streaming toward a black hole, suggesting two dinner modes for black holes: slow grazing on diffuse hot gas and quick consumption of clumps of cold gas. The findings represent the first direct evidence to support the hypothesis that black holes feed on clouds of cold gas.
Researchers detected cold gas clouds traveling at 1 million km/h toward a black hole in the Abell 2597 Cluster. The discovery offers new understanding of how black holes ingest fuel, with implications for our knowledge of accretion processes.
A team of researchers has discovered a new class of galaxies where supermassive black holes trigger powerful winds that prevent future star formation. These 'red geysers' lack young stars despite having abundant gas, and their outflowing winds heat surrounding gas through shocks, ultimately suppressing stellar birth.
A team of physicists has developed a new method to calculate the thermodynamics of black holes, leveraging quantum gravity and holographic principles. The study proposes that a 'condensate' of space quanta can describe homogeneous classical geometries, allowing for a more realistic and robust calculation of black hole entropy.
Italian researchers used Hubble data and computer models to identify two objects as potential seeds for supermassive black holes. These early black hole seed candidates are seen less than a billion years after the Big Bang and have an initial mass of about 100,000 times the Sun.
A new study by NASA scientist Alexander Kashlinsky proposes that primordial black holes, formed in the universe's first second, could make up dark matter. If correct, this would mean all galaxies are embedded within a vast sphere of black holes with masses similar to the sun.
Researchers at the IAC discovered a powerful wind of neutral material in the outer layers of V404 Cygni's accretion disc. This wind regulates accretion, causing shorter outbursts, and has been detected for the first time in a black hole system.
A team of astrophysicists has detected an intense wind in the neighborhood of a black hole, which is formed in the outer layers of the accretion disc. The wind has a high velocity of 3,000 km/s and plays a crucial role in regulating the accretion of material by the black hole.
A team of astronomers used ALMA to measure the speed of carbon monoxide gas orbiting a supermassive black hole, calculating its mass as 660 million times greater than our Sun. This precise measurement is crucial for understanding these cosmic behemoths and their role in galaxy evolution.
Researchers use ALMA to accurately measure the mass of a supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 1332, shedding light on how galaxies and their black holes form. The findings suggest a coordinated growth between galaxies and their central black holes.
Researchers use ALMA's high-resolution data to map the rotation of cold molecular gas and dust orbiting a giant elliptical galaxy, determining the massive supermassive black hole at its center has a mass 660 million times greater than the Sun. The precise measurement is among the most accurate for a galaxy's central black hole.
Astronomers have linked a record-breaking cosmic neutrino, Big Bird, detected in 2012 to a powerful outburst from the black hole at PKS B1424-418. The association is supported by data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other space-based observatories.
Astronomers from the University of Cambridge have discovered strong winds leaving mysterious binary systems, with speeds exceeding 70,000 km/s. The findings confirm that these sources conceal compact objects pulling in matter at extraordinarily high rates.
The detection of a brief gamma-ray burst consistent with the same part of the sky as gravitational waves offers a unique window into the universe. By analyzing this event, scientists can gain insights into the dynamics leading up to black hole mergers and shed light on the nature of gravity.
Researchers at RMIT University have created a breakthrough chip that enables unparalleled control over the angular momentum of light, paving the way for next-generation optical technologies. The discovery could lead to new applications in ultra-high definition display, optical communication, and ultra-secure encryption.
Physicists have found a simple formula for the maximum mass of neutron stars, which depends on their rotation rate. The research, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggests that rotating neutron stars can support masses up to 20% higher than non-rotating ones.
Researchers found a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass of 17 billion solar masses in the galaxy NGC 1600, located 200 million light-years from Earth. This discovery suggests that these massive objects may be more common than previously thought and could be living in smaller galaxies.
Astronomers have discovered a record-breaking supermassive black hole weighing 17 billion suns in the center of a galaxy in a sparsely populated area of the universe. The massive object's size defies expectations, as it is 10 times more massive than predicted for a galaxy of its mass.
Astronomers discover that the 'afterglow' of a fast radio burst was actually a persistent radio source from a supermassive black hole. The discovery resolves the mystery of the black hole's behavior, which varies randomly due to scintillation and changes in matter consumption.
Astronomers used Hubble to study the Milky Way's nuclear star cluster, discovering a rich tapestry of over half a million stars. The cluster surrounds the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and offers insights into its formation.
Researchers at Osaka University have simulated the formation of supermassive black holes, revealing that they are seeded by clouds of gas falling into potential wells created by dark matter. The simulations found a central seed particle growing rapidly to form a supermassive black hole, accompanied by misaligned accretion discs.
A team of researchers has found evidence for a particle accelerator in the center of the Milky Way that can accelerate protons to petaelectronvolt energies. The discovery sheds new light on the origin of galactic cosmic rays and challenges existing theories.
Astronomers have discovered the fastest ultraviolet winds ever seen near a supermassive black hole, with wind speeds of over 200 million miles per hour. This breakthrough study sheds light on quasar outflows and their role in galaxy formation.
Researchers at York University have detected the fastest winds ever seen near a supermassive black hole, with speeds reaching 200 million km/h. This discovery sheds light on quasar winds' role in galaxy formation and their impact on star creation.
Researchers accurately measured the rotational rate of an 18 billion solar mass supermassive black hole, one-third of the maximum spin rate allowed in General Relativity. The binary black hole model reveals a smaller companion orbiting around it, affecting accretion disk behavior.
Researchers suggest that twin black holes detected by LIGO might have formed inside a single, massive star. The star's death generated a gamma-ray burst, which was observed by the Fermi Space Telescope.
RIT researchers are investigating properties of binary black hole mergers and inferring the rate of such mergers based on their implications for the gravitational wave background. They aim to detect a range of signals from unexplained bursts to a background 'hum' from the distant universe.
Researchers simulated a thin ring-shaped black hole in five dimensions, which breaks down Einstein's general theory of relativity if it exists outside an event horizon. The simulation revealed the formation of a 'naked singularity', causing laws of physics to break down and potentially rendering general relativity ineffective.
A research team led by GGC physicist Lior Burko simulated a rotating black hole for the first time, revealing that objects can stay intact as they approach the center. The simulation supports popular science fiction scenarios where black holes are used as portals for hyperspace travel.
Researchers at Harvard have advanced graphene's understanding by observing electrons behaving like a fluid, defying classical physics expectations. The findings pave the way for novel thermoelectric devices and provide a model system to explore exotic phenomena.
Scientists observed ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves from colliding black holes, confirming a major prediction of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. The detected waves were produced during the merger of two black holes, with masses about 29 and 36 times that of the sun.
Rochester Institute of Technology researchers' 2005 breakthrough prediction of gravitational waves has been confirmed by LIGO. Their work introduced a revolutionary new way to understand the universe through gravitational wave astronomy, opening up frontiers in the field.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has detected ripples in space-time, also known as gravitational waves, for the first time on Earth. This breakthrough opens a new window into the universe and revolutionizes our understanding of violent cosmic events.
Scientists have observed ripples in spacetime, called gravitational waves, arriving from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. This confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, providing information about gravity and its nature.
ASTRO-H will observe X-ray sources like galaxy clusters and neutron stars up to 10 times fainter than its predecessor Suzaku. The observatory uses four co-aligned focusing X-ray telescopes and cutting-edge instruments to provide simultaneous coverage across its entire energy range.
A team of astronomers has detected a gas cloud with a wide velocity dispersion, suggesting the presence of an intermediate mass black hole. The cloud's elliptical shape and composition indicate a compact but low-density component and a dense component extending 10 light years.
Astronomers discovered a distant quasar that has apparently run out of gas, leading to a significant decrease in its brightness. The quasar, SDSS J1011+5442, was found to have consumed all the glowing-hot gas in its vicinity, causing it to dim drastically.
A Kyoto-led team reports that black hole activity can be observed through visible light during outbursts, and that optical rays provide reliable data for black hole activity. The study used a 20 cm telescope to observe V404 Cygni, detecting repetitive patterns with timescales of several minutes to a few hours.
A UTSA-led team detected a powerful galactic blast from a nearby supermassive black hole using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The research found that the black hole's outbursts have impacted the surrounding galaxy, triggering the formation of new stars and affecting the climate.
Researchers at the University of Leicester suggest that supermassive black holes can grow up to 50 billion solar masses before their gas discs collapse, starving them of fuel. Without a disc, the black hole would stop growing, marking a significant limit on its size.
Researchers have discovered that the disks of gas and dust surrounding massive black holes are 'clumpy,' not smooth. The observations were made using NASA's NuSTAR and European Space Agency's XMM-Newton space observatory.
Astronomers observed gamma rays from PKS 1441+25, a blazar galaxy 7 billion years away. The high-energy light revealed a single region far from the power source, contradicting previous assumptions.
The VERITAS telescope detected powerful gamma rays from a distant galaxy, PKS 1441+25, revealing details about the black hole engine at its center. The gamma-ray emission was found to be located within the relativistic jet, but surprisingly far from the black hole, and is estimated to be around 5 light-years away.
Researchers detected gamma rays from a rare blazar galaxy, PKS 1441+25, 7.6 billion light-years away, setting new bounds on the extragalactic background light. The observations provide clues to the production of high-energy gamma rays and their interaction with the surrounding environment.
Astronomers measured the density of photon fog between Earth and quasar PKS 1441+25 using high-energy gamma rays. The data validated theoretical models for the number and brightness of stars and galaxies in the universe going back 7.6 billion years.
The LAXPC instrument has observed various astrophysical objects, including Black hole X-ray binaries, Microquasars, and Supernova remnants. Its large detection volume and efficient xenon gas filling result in high detection efficiency above 30 keV.
Researchers have discovered high levels of polarization in radio emissions from Sagittarius A*, providing proof that strong horizon-scale magnetic fields exist. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of black hole growth and the nature of gravity.
The Event Horizon Telescope detected magnetic fields near the event horizon of the Milky Way's central black hole, Sgr A*, for the first time. The findings suggest that these magnetic fields are disordered in some regions and organized in others, possibly related to jet generation.