Articles tagged with Black Holes
Astronomers have discovered that massive clouds of hot gas in elliptical galaxies are being stirred up by intermittent explosive activity from central super-massive black holes. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that these galaxies are quiet and stable, revealing a more dynamic and stormy reality.
A team of scientists measured gas motions within 10 light-years of a supermassive black hole, confirming main theories at unprecedented scales. The observations revealed dynamic shifts in the gas and showed spiral arms pulling gas from distant regions.
UI researchers discovered a giant star orbiting a 'medium-sized' black hole every 62 days, indicating the star's enormous size and brightness in X-rays. This finding may help confirm a class of black holes with masses between 100 and 10,000 solar masses.
Scientists have discovered energetic plumes extending 300,000 light years into a massive galaxy cluster. The plumes are caused by explosive venting from a supermassive black hole and demonstrate the far-reaching influence of a black hole on intergalactic distances.
Astronomers recorded a massive star ejected from the Large Magellanic Cloud with speeds of over 2.6 million kilometers per hour. The high velocity suggests the presence of a massive black hole, which could be responsible for kicking the star out of its parent galaxy.
The Swift satellite has received a "Best of What's New" award for its innovative technology, enabling rapid detection and follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts. This breakthrough has confirmed the origin of gamma-ray bursts and helped pinpoint the birth of a special kind of black hole.
Astronomers find a dense whirling ball of neutrons in an extremely young star cluster, challenging the idea that nature can make black holes. The discovery shows massive stars may not collapse into black holes as predicted, but instead create neutron stars with a greater influence on future generations of stars.
Astronomers have released images of galaxy NGC 1097, revealing the channelling process of matter toward its central supermassive black hole. The new images show over 300 regions of star formation in a prominent ring surrounding the nucleus.
Astronomers find massive stars forming close to super-massive black holes, challenging previous theories about their role in galaxy evolution. Researchers used Chandra X-ray Observatory data to study the Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) star cluster near the Milky Way's central black hole.
Astronomers observed quasars with the VLT and HST to detect host galaxies, but found that one quasar, HE0450-2958, has no massive galaxy. Instead, they detected a bright cloud of gas ionized by the quasar's radiation, which may be feeding the black hole.
Astronomers detect unusual quasar with no visible host galaxy, sparking debate about its origin. The object's properties suggest a rare collision between galaxies, potentially illuminating the formation of massive black holes and their role in shaping the universe.
The study found that repeated administration of interferon beta-1b decreased the rate of new 'black hole' lesions but did not affect their duration. This suggests that the drug may be neuroprotective but does not change the underlying pathological process in multiple sclerosis.
Astronomers have found a large population of obscured quasars, which are thought to be hidden behind dust in galaxies. The discovery sheds light on the growth habits of black holes at the heart of active galaxies.
The Millennium Simulation uses sophisticated modeling techniques to recreate evolutionary histories for 20 million galaxies and supermassive black holes. The simulation demonstrates that a few massive black holes can form early enough to account for rare quasars, and provides a new tool for understanding the nature of dark energy.
The Millennium Run simulation recreated evolutionary histories for 20 million galaxies and supermassive black holes, clarifying physical processes underlying galaxy buildup. The study also demonstrated that characteristic patterns imprinted on matter distribution at early epochs are still present in observed galaxy distributions.
According to Professor Andrew Hamilton, the core of a black hole is not a singular point of infinite density but rather a hot, dense plasma that siphons matter into itself. This plasma could be the cause of a space traveller's demise in larger black holes.
Recent studies of the cosmic microwave background radiation suggest that small black holes were widespread in the early universe and merged to form larger black holes. This finding could indicate an era in which small black holes were commonplace, with potential telltale evidence in galaxies without a central supermassive black hole.
Researchers have found that some galaxies and their central black holes underwent a phenomenal growth spurt, setting the stage for the birth of quasars. The study used Chandra X-ray observations to track the growth of supermassive black holes alongside the formation of stars in these galaxies.
The NASA-led Swift mission has successfully measured the distances to two gamma-ray bursts, both originating from over 9 billion light years away. These direct distance measurements, achieved with Swift's Ultraviolet/OpticalTelescope (UVOT), represent a major milestone for the mission since its launch in 2004.
Rob Myers and Eric Poisson, two prominent physicists, have been awarded the CAP prize for their outstanding contributions to gravitational physics and string theory. Their work has significantly impacted foundational questions in string theory and gravitational waves, with implications for future research.
Astronomers have detected periodic X-ray variations in a galaxy, suggesting a massive black hole with a mass of approximately 10,000 Suns. This finding provides strong evidence for the existence of intermediate-mass black holes, which could bridge the gap between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes.
Researchers have found that black holes in 10 dimensions behave like fluids with near-zero viscosity, which is lower than water. This discovery could revolutionize our understanding of the behavior of matter and energy at extreme temperatures and densities.
Computer simulations of black holes have revealed that the process of matter accretion is more complex than previously thought. The new findings show that magnetic fields play a crucial role in creating violent disturbances in density, velocity, and magnetic field strength near the event horizon.
Researchers used Doppler radar-like technique to track gas around the center of NGC 4395, measuring a mass less than a million solar masses - about 100 times smaller than others of its type. This discovery provides insight into midsize black holes and their role in galaxy formation.
A survey of 74 students found that subordinates were more likely to use name avoidance towards their boss's boss and CEO compared to immediate supervisors. This phenomenon is rooted in socialization patterns and the tendency to rank lower in organizational hierarchies, creating tension between power and equality.
Researchers found that growing black holes release energy that regulates galaxy evolution and black hole growth, matching observed relationships between black hole size and galaxy mass. The simulations also show that smaller galaxies have less gas to form stars, while larger galaxies produce more.
Simulations show that growing black holes release a blast of energy, powering strong winds that prevent material from falling in, inhibiting further growth. This process links black hole mass to the total mass of stars in galaxies, explaining observed phenomena and promising deeper insights into galaxy formation.
The LISA mission will detect low-frequency gravitational waves from the merger of compact objects like stellar-size black holes and neutron stars. By measuring tiny changes in the motion of freely falling test masses, scientists can study these events with unprecedented precision.
Astronomers have discovered that radio jets from black holes can trigger the collapse of interstellar clouds and induce star formation. The jets' collision with dense gas leads to the creation of new stars, bringing 'new life' to these systems.
Researchers found a high concentration of X-ray sources near the Galactic center, suggesting multiple black holes are present. The presence of these black holes is consistent with the theory that stellar-mass black holes can sink toward the center of the galaxy through dynamical friction.
Astronomers discovered a dense stellar graveyard with thousands of X-ray sources within 70 light years of the Milky Way's center. The discovery supports the idea that dynamical friction could create a massive population of stellar-mass black holes.
Researchers observe enormous cavities surrounding a supermassive black hole, preventing gas from cooling and forming new stars. The discovery sheds light on the universe's structure and supports recent theories about black holes' role in shaping galaxy evolution.
Astronomers discovered a record-breaking eruption of hot gas and cavities in galaxy cluster MS 0735.6+7421, fueled by a super massive black hole growing at an incredible rate. The event generated energy equivalent to hundreds of millions of gamma-ray bursts.
Scientists have developed a new method to isolate the light from compact regions of black holes using polaroid filters. This allows them to focus on the area surrounding the black hole, revealing new signals such as the 'Balmer edge' feature that provides information about material properties.
The Swift satellite will pinpoint the location of distant gamma-ray bursts, studying both the burst and its afterglow. It may uncover new clues about the burst mechanism and provide a bonanza of cosmological data, including information about supermassive black holes.
Researchers found a blazar, an enormous source of energy from a supermassive black hole, which is one billion years old. The discovery sheds light on the formation of stars and galaxies, offering insights into the universe's early evolution.
A team of astronomers has discovered hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes in the distant universe, invisible to optical telescopes. The new observations combined data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Spitzer Space Telescope, revealing objects that were previously thought to be missing.
Astronomers using the European AVO Virtual Observatory have discovered a whole population of obscured, powerful supermassive black holes in the GOODS survey fields. The team found thirty objects, which they believe were underestimated by a factor of two to five.
Researchers used the MIDI instrument in the VLTI Laboratory to study the central region of active galaxy NGC 1068. They confirmed the presence of a torus-shaped structure of gas and dust around the black hole, with a hot inner zone and a cooler outer region.
Astronomers successfully measured the size of Sagittarius A*, the mysterious object at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, using the National Science Foundation's Very Long Baseline Array radio telescope. The black hole has a mass nearly four million times that of the Sun and would fit easily inside Earth's orbit.
Physicists at Ohio State University propose a solution to the long-standing information paradox by suggesting that black holes are made up of giant tangles of strings that preserve the information of particles that enter them. This theory resolves the paradox and provides new insights into the nature of black holes.
Researchers watched the inner regions of an accretion disk, just miles from a neutron star's surface, change its structure in real-time. The observation provides new insight into the flow of a neutron star's accretion disk and could help study black holes and distant quasars.
A team led by Reinhard Genzel reports detecting powerful infrared flares from a region just outside the supermassive black hole, indicating rapid rotation. The observed signals suggest that the black hole's fundamental orbital time is about half of the maximum spin allowed by general relativity.
Astronomers detect near-infrared flares from hot gas falling into the black hole, revealing its rapid rotation and chaotic environment. The findings provide unprecedented information about what happens just outside the event horizon.
A new model suggests that the Big Bang could have been an explosion within a black hole, with the universe expanding into an infinite space. The theory, developed by UC Davis and University of Michigan mathematicians, satisfies Einstein's equations while allowing for expansion.
Scientists found that galaxies and extremely massive black holes seem to grow together, with rapidly growing black holes fueling faster galaxy growth. This discovery sheds light on an astrophysical mystery and reveals a crucial link between the two cosmic phenomena.
A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery linking black hole growth to galaxy evolution. The study found that more than 20,000 galaxies contain growing black holes, mostly in massive galaxies with recent star formation. As the rate of black hole growth increases, so does the amount of recent star formation.
A team of astronomers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a new optical technique that enables gamma-ray telescopes to quickly identify TeV blazars, reducing identification time from three months to just one day. This breakthrough may provide insight into black hole physics and the origin of cosmic rays.
Astronomers discovered a galaxy without a visible central bulge but with a massive black hole, challenging previous assumptions about the formation of supermassive black holes. The galaxy's black hole has a mass approximately 10,000 to 100,000 times that of the sun.
Researchers have found evidence of high-speed winds blowing copious amounts of gas from the cores of quasar galaxies, powered by black holes. The winds may regulate black hole growth and create new stars, with a wind transporting substantial amounts of carbon, oxygen, and iron into the interstellar medium.
Researchers found a correlation between fluence and duration for both short and long bursts, but the degree of this relationship is statistically different at a 4.5 sigma significance level. This suggests that short bursts may originate from fundamentally different physical processes than long bursts.
Astronomers have strengthened the case for a massive black hole at the galactic center with observations of a newly discovered star. The star's high velocity and proximity to the black hole confirm its presence, ruling out alternative explanations.
A new study suggests that black holes can form before galaxies, with massive black holes found in even the smallest active galaxies. The research, led by Marianne Vestergaard at Ohio State University, uses a method to estimate the mass of distant black holes and finds that they are often more massive than previously thought.
Astronomers detected two active black holes at the center of galaxy NGC 6240 using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The binary black hole system will eventually merge, producing massive gravitational waves detectable by LISA.
Researchers tracked a star's orbit around a suspected black hole in the Milky Way, revealing its massive gravitational pull. The observation provides key evidence for the existence of a supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center.
A star orbiting the massive Milky Way centre has been observed approaching the central black hole to within three times the distance between the Sun and Pluto. The new measurements provide conclusive evidence for the existence of a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy.
Researchers David Merritt and Ron Ekers developed a mathematical model suggesting that supermassive black holes merge when their host galaxies collide. The model demonstrates the realignment of larger black holes, resulting in sudden changes in jet direction, which can be observed as X-shaped patterns in galaxy images.
Researchers have developed a computer model to visualize gravitational waves produced by black-hole mergers, providing insight into Einstein's theory of general relativity. The model predicts that the waves will be relatively weak until moments before the merger, culminating in a thunderous impact.
The quasar APM 08279+5255 has a three times larger iron fraction than our solar system, contrary to expectations. This suggests an unknown efficient way of producing iron or the universe may be older than expected.
A new MIT model proposes that cosmic explosions may be triggered by a cosmic tango between a black hole and its companion, a spinning torus of stellar material. The model suggests that the energy released during this dance could explain recent observations of gamma-ray bursts.