NASA has discovered a supermassive black hole that killed one star and is now using the wreckage to destroy another star or black hole. The Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes combined to spot the black hole that is on a killer mission.

The findings were published in the journal Nature on Oct 9.&nbsp;

In 2019, a burst of light was observed by an optical telescope in California. A black hole had shredded a star that got too close to it using its powerful tidal forces. The event was later categorised as a "tidal disruption event", or TDE. All that remains after the event is a disk that orbits the black hole.

This disk grew in size over time, expanding at a regular rate. This has brought it in the path of another star, possibly a stellar-mass black hole. This black hole is orbiting the massive black hole. While earlier it was at a safe distance, now it is repeatedly crashing into the disk left behind by the dead star.

This happens every 48 hours, with each collision resulting in a burst of X-rays that Chandra captured.

“Imagine a diver repeatedly going into a pool and creating a splash every time she enters the water,” said Matt Nicholl of Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom, the study’s lead author.

In this case, "The star is like the diver and the disk is the pool."&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-storm-might-kill-the-comet-but-be-ready-to-be-amazed-by-auroras-766246">Sun storm might kill the comet, but be ready to be amazed by auroras</a>

"Each time the star strikes the surface, it creates a huge ‘splash’ of gas and X-rays. As the star orbits around the black hole, it does this over and over again.”

<h2>X-ray bursts</h2>

The X-ray burst is a cosmic phenomenon that occasionally occurs in the universe and has been named "quasi-periodic eruptions", or QPEs. Astronomers had been observing them for some time but were not able to pinpoint the reason.

The discovery of this supermassive black hole on a killing spree is proof that TDEs and QPEs are connected, experts think.&nbsp;

Researchers believe that QPEs happen when an object smashes into the disk left behind after the TDE. The study authors say that this might not be the case with all of them, but they are the source of at least some QPEs.

“There had been feverish speculation that these phenomena were connected, and now we’ve discovered the proof that they are,” said co-author Dheeraj Pasham of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“It’s like getting a cosmic two-for-one in solving mysteries.”

The Chandra data was obtained during three observations, each with a gap of about 4 to 5 hours. Chandra time exposure was about 14 hours and it revealed only a weak signal in the first and last chunks but a very strong signal in the middle observation.

NASA has discovered a supermassive black hole that killed one star and is now using the wreckage to destroy another star or black hole. The Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes combined to spot the black hole that is on a killer mission.

NASA has discovered a supermassive black hole that killed one star and is now using the wreckage to destroy another star or black hole. The Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes combined to spot the black hole that is on a killer mission. The findings were published in the journal Nature on Oct 9. In 2019, a burst of light was observed by an optical telescope in California. A black hole had shredded a star that got too close to it using its powerful tidal forces. The event was later categorised as a "tidal disruption event", or TDE. All that remains after the event is a disk that orbits the black hole. This disk grew in size over time, expanding at a regular rate. This has brought it in the path of another star, possibly a stellar-mass black hole. This black hole is orbiting the massive black hole. While earlier it was at a safe distance, now it is repeatedly crashing into the disk left behind by the dead star. This happens every 48 hours, with each collision resulting in a burst of X-rays that Chandra captured. “Imagine a diver repeatedly going into a pool and creating a splash every time she enters the water,” said Matt Nicholl of Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom, the study’s lead author. In this case, "The star is like the diver and the disk is the pool." Also Read: Sun storm might kill the comet, but be ready to be amazed by auroras "Each time the star strikes the surface, it creates a huge ‘splash’ of gas and X-rays. As the star orbits around the black hole, it does this over and over again.” X-ray bursts The X-ray burst is a cosmic phenomenon that occasionally occurs in the universe and has been named "quasi-periodic eruptions", or QPEs. Astronomers had been observing them for some time but were not able to pinpoint the reason. The discovery of this supermassive black hole on a killing spree is proof that TDEs and QPEs are connected, experts think. Researchers believe that QPEs happen when an object smashes into the disk left behind after the TDE. The study authors say that this might not be the case with all of them, but they are the source of at least some QPEs. “There had been feverish speculation that these phenomena were connected, and now we’ve discovered the proof that they are,” said co-author Dheeraj Pasham of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It’s like getting a cosmic two-for-one in solving mysteries.” The Chandra data was obtained during three observations, each with a gap of about 4 to 5 hours. Chandra time exposure was about 14 hours and it revealed only a weak signal in the first and last chunks but a very strong signal in the middle observation.

Supermassive black hole on a killing spree is using dead star remains as weapon

Space is a mysterious and dangerous place. While we know that black holes can swallow up whole planets, some things are far scarier than them.

Apart from black holes, various objects in the universe can pose a threat to not only our planet but the whole solar system.

<h2>Here are some of the most dangerous objects and phenomena in space:</h2>

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are from powerful explosions observed in distant galaxies. It is believed they can vaporise anything within 200 light-years with its beams. While GRBs hitting Earth is only a hypothesis, it could be dangerous to the atmosphere and damage the ozone layer, making life vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-saga-continues-mission-to-probe-crime-scene-on-dimorphos-ready-for-blast-off-764738">Asteroid saga continues: Mission to probe 'crime scene' on Dimorphos ready for blast off</a>

Megacomet

A “Megacomet” is a massive comet that can be as large as 100 miles across. The biggest-ever comet C/2014 UN271 was last seen in our solar system in 2021. It is so big that it was named a minor planet initially. Luckily, it will be a billion miles away from Earth when it comes closest to Earth in 2031. However, there is a possibility of more megacomets in the universe that could come our way.

Supernovae

Supernova explosions occur when a star reaches the end of its life cycle. They are so powerful and bright that they can outshine an entire galaxy due to the energy they release. Any object within their “kill zone” could be wiped out by its intense radiation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/centaur-an-icy-body-in-space-is-shooting-multiple-jets-of-hot-gas-whats-going-on-764764">Centaur, an icy body in space, is shooting multiple jets of hot gas. What's going on?</a>

Asteroids

There are many large objects in our solar system. There is a possibility of an asteroid striking the Earth, similar to the one that wiped out dinosaurs from Earth about 66 million years ago. According to new data from astronomers, there are over 150,000 objects that are unidentified in the solar system, and most of them are asteroids.

Cosmic collision

A collision with another galaxy can lead to deadly impact, creating new black holes and altering the galaxies due to the clashing gravitational forces. It is predicted that Andromeda galaxy, which is 2.5 million light-years away will collide with our galaxy, Milky Way, in 3 to 5 billion years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Space is a mysterious and dangerous place. While we know that black holes can swallow up whole planets, some things are far scarier than them. Apart from black holes, various objects in the universe can pose a threat to not only our planet but the whole solar system.

Space is a mysterious and dangerous place. While we know that black holes can swallow up whole planets, some things are far scarier than them. Apart from black holes, various objects in the universe can pose a threat to not only our planet but the whole solar system. Here are some of the most dangerous objects and phenomena in space: Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are from powerful explosions observed in distant galaxies. It is believed they can vaporise anything within 200 light-years with its beams. While GRBs hitting Earth is only a hypothesis, it could be dangerous to the atmosphere and damage the ozone layer, making life vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Also read | Asteroid saga continues: Mission to probe 'crime scene' on Dimorphos ready for blast off Megacomet A “Megacomet” is a massive comet that can be as large as 100 miles across. The biggest-ever comet C/2014 UN271 was last seen in our solar system in 2021. It is so big that it was named a minor planet initially. Luckily, it will be a billion miles away from Earth when it comes closest to Earth in 2031. However, there is a possibility of more megacomets in the universe that could come our way. Supernovae Supernova explosions occur when a star reaches the end of its life cycle. They are so powerful and bright that they can outshine an entire galaxy due to the energy they release. Any object within their “kill zone” could be wiped out by its intense radiation. Also read | Centaur, an icy body in space, is shooting multiple jets of hot gas. What's going on? Asteroids There are many large objects in our solar system. There is a possibility of an asteroid striking the Earth, similar to the one that wiped out dinosaurs from Earth about 66 million years ago. According to new data from astronomers, there are over 150,000 objects that are unidentified in the solar system, and most of them are asteroids. Cosmic collision A collision with another galaxy can lead to deadly impact, creating new black holes and altering the galaxies due to the clashing gravitational forces. It is predicted that Andromeda galaxy, which is 2.5 million light-years away will collide with our galaxy, Milky Way, in 3 to 5 billion years. (With inputs from agencies)

If you think black holes are the most dangerous objects in space, you’re wrong

Two galaxies with two black holes each caught in the act of merging by NASA. The event has been observed in two dwarf galaxies by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Scientists say merge will provide insight into the formation of galaxies in the early universe. Extraordinary images of two dwarf galaxies, Mirabilis and Elstir & Vinteuil captured. Discovery will help us understand how galaxies like our Milky Way formed. Watch to know more!

Two black holes caught merging, event to provide insight into galaxy formation | WION originals

In a stunning discovery, astronomers spotted the eruption of the largest twin jets from a black hole&nbsp;that&nbsp;can stretch for around 23 million light-years, which is equivalent to lined-up 140&nbsp;Milky Way&nbsp;galaxies.&nbsp; 
 
The scientists saw the jets erupting from the heart of a supermassive black hole, which is located nearly 7.5 billion light-years away.&nbsp;

The jets which blasted out from the black hole released trillions of times more energy every second compared to our Sun.

"We've known about these structures made by jets from galactic-centre&nbsp;supermassive black holes&nbsp;for a long time, but this particular one stands out for three reasons," said team member Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire, while speaking to Space.com.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-primordial-black-hole-will-pass-through-our-solar-system-after-every-10-years-will-it-harm-759740">A 'primordial' black hole will pass through our solar system every 10 years. Will it harm?</a>

"First, it's the largest yet, at over 20 million light years from end to end, which means it goes from the centre of its parent galaxy right out into the void between galaxies and galaxy groups," he added.

"Secondly, it's one of the most powerful we know about, with a fast rate of matter infall onto the black hole. And finally, it is found when the universe was only roughly half of its present age, and is thought to have been a much more violent place with much more going on that could have disrupted the jets," Hardcastle said.

<h2>Scientists name the powerful jets 'Porphyrion'</h2>

The scientists, along with the team which discovered the megastructure, gave the gigantic jets a suitable mythic name, "Porphyrion," which was borrowed from&nbsp;Greek mythology.&nbsp;

According to the researchers, such an outflow of jets is likely to have played an important role in the&nbsp;evolution of galaxies in the early universe.

"Astronomers believe that&nbsp;galaxies and their central black holes co-evolve, and one key aspect of this is that jets can spread huge amounts of energy that affect the growth of their host galaxies and other galaxies near them," said team member George Djorgovski, professor of astronomy and data science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in a statement.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Astronomers find a rare black hole that defies current theories

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"This discovery shows that their effects can extend much farther out than we thought," he added.

Pophyrion was discovered by scientists using the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) radio telescope.&nbsp;

"Giant jets were known before we started the campaign, but we had no idea that there would turn out to be so many," said Hardcastle.&nbsp;

"Usually, when we get a new observational capability, such as LOFAR's combination of wide field of view and very high sensitivity to extended structures, we find something new, but it was still very exciting to see so many of these objects emerging," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a stunning discovery, astronomers spotted the eruption of the largest twin jets from a black hole that can stretch for around 23 million light-years, which is equivalent to lined-up 140 Milky Way galaxies.

In a stunning discovery, astronomers spotted the eruption of the largest twin jets from a black hole that can stretch for around 23 million light-years, which is equivalent to lined-up 140 Milky Way galaxies. The scientists saw the jets erupting from the heart of a supermassive black hole, which is located nearly 7.5 billion light-years away. The jets which blasted out from the black hole released trillions of times more energy every second compared to our Sun. "We've known about these structures made by jets from galactic-centre supermassive black holes for a long time, but this particular one stands out for three reasons," said team member Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire, while speaking to Space.com. Also Read: A 'primordial' black hole will pass through our solar system every 10 years. Will it harm? "First, it's the largest yet, at over 20 million light years from end to end, which means it goes from the centre of its parent galaxy right out into the void between galaxies and galaxy groups," he added. "Secondly, it's one of the most powerful we know about, with a fast rate of matter infall onto the black hole. And finally, it is found when the universe was only roughly half of its present age, and is thought to have been a much more violent place with much more going on that could have disrupted the jets," Hardcastle said. Scientists name the powerful jets 'Porphyrion' The scientists, along with the team which discovered the megastructure, gave the gigantic jets a suitable mythic name, "Porphyrion," which was borrowed from Greek mythology. According to the researchers, such an outflow of jets is likely to have played an important role in the evolution of galaxies in the early universe. "Astronomers believe that galaxies and their central black holes co-evolve, and one key aspect of this is that jets can spread huge amounts of energy that affect the growth of their host galaxies and other galaxies near them," said team member George Djorgovski, professor of astronomy and data science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in a statement. Watch: Astronomers find a rare black hole that defies current theories "This discovery shows that their effects can extend much farther out than we thought," he added. Pophyrion was discovered by scientists using the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) radio telescope. "Giant jets were known before we started the campaign, but we had no idea that there would turn out to be so many," said Hardcastle. "Usually, when we get a new observational capability, such as LOFAR's combination of wide field of view and very high sensitivity to extended structures, we find something new, but it was still very exciting to see so many of these objects emerging," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Largest twin jets erupt from a black hole, can stretch for 23 million light-years

Scientists have suggested that a tiny black hole is likely to pass through our solar system after every decade and this can be spotted by observing the wobbling of Mars.

Scientists have suggested that a tiny black hole is likely to pass through our solar system after every decade and this can be spotted by observing the wobbling of Mars. This observation was on the basis of the idea that the majority of dark matter in the universe is filled with minuscule black holes. The researchers, in order to determine the truth of this theory, have been closely observing the orbit of Mars. According to a new paper published in the journal Physical Review D, the tiny black holes when travelling through the solar system can make the red planet wobble in a way that it can be spotted from Earth. "Given decades of precision telemetry, scientists know the distance between Earth and Mars to an accuracy of about 10 centimetres [4 inches]," said study co-author David Kaiser, professor of physics at MIT, in a statement. "We're taking advantage of this highly instrumented region of space to try and look for a small effect. If we see it, that would count as a real reason to keep pursuing this delightful idea that all of dark matter consists of black holes that were spawned in less than a second after the Big Bang and have been streaming around the universe for 14 billion years," he added. Also Read: Mega collision with another galaxy 9 billion years ago created Milky Way black hole The researchers in the paper estimated one of these tiny black holes is likely to fly through our solar system one time in every decade. "Primordial black holes do not live in the solar system. Rather, they're streaming through the universe, doing their own thing," said paper co-author Sarah Geller, who is now a postdoc at the University of California at Santa Cruz, in the statement. "And the probability is, they're going through the inner solar system at some angle once every 10 years or so," he added. How do scientists plan to detect the passing of black holes? To detect these black holes, researchers have modelled every large body's orbits in the solar system and discovered that the tiny wobbles in the orbit of Mars can give a hint of the passing of asteroid-mass black holes. "State-of-the-art simulations of the solar system include more than a million objects, each of which has a tiny residual effect," said study co-author, Benjamin Lehmann, who is a researcher at MIT, in the statement. Watch: Astronomers find a rare black hole that defies current theories "But even modelling two dozen objects in a careful simulation, we could see there was a real effect that we could dig into," he added. Such wobbles will be detected by equipment on Earth. "We need as much clarity as we can of the expected backgrounds, such as the typical speeds and distributions of boring space rocks, versus these primordial black holes," said Kaiser. "Luckily for us, astronomers have been tracking ordinary space rocks for decades as they have flown through our solar system, so we could calculate typical properties of their trajectories and begin to compare them with the very different types of paths and speeds that primordial black holes should follow," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

A 'primordial' black hole will pass through our solar system every 10 years. Will it harm?

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has caught a supermassive black hole in the early universe starving its galaxy to death. Galaxies die when star formation no longer happens. Astronomers have believed for a long time that the central supermassive black holes might be to blame for this.&nbsp;

When the supermassive black hole residing at the centre of a galaxy eats up all the gas and dust, the building blocks of stars, the galaxies can be "killed" prematurely.

The "galactic death by starvation" captured by JWST happened very quickly because of the creation of two million miles per hour winds of gas.

This is the first time such an effect has been captured on camera, which proves that galaxies can be starved to death. A team of researchers led by University of Cambridge scientists presented the findings.&nbsp;

This early galaxy seen by JWST is officially named GS-10578. It has been nicknamed "Pablo’s Galaxy" after the team member who proposed to observe it in detail.&nbsp;

Pabalo's galaxy is located around 11.5 billion light-years away from Earth. What the astronomers see today transpired just 2.3 billion years or so after the Big Bang.

"Based on earlier observations, we knew this galaxy was in a quenched state: it's not forming many stars given its size, and we expect there is a link between the black hole and the end of star formation," team member Francesco D’Eugenio from Cambridge's Kavli Institute for Cosmology said in a statement.&nbsp;

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"However, until the JWST, we haven't been able to study this galaxy in enough detail to confirm that link, and we haven't known whether this quenched state is temporary or permanent."

<h2>Dead galaxy in early years of universe</h2>

The galaxy is about the size of the Milky Way and is unusually humongous for this period in the early universe. It is also strange to see a dead galaxy at this time. Researchers say that it birthed most of its stars between 12.5 billion and 11.5 billion years ago.

"In the early universe, most galaxies are forming lots of stars, so it's interesting to see such a massive dead galaxy at this period in time," team member Roberto Maiolino, also from the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, said.

Using JWST's data, researchers determined that the supermassive black hole at the heart of Pablo’s Galaxy is pushing vast amounts of gas away at speeds of 2.2 million miles per hour.&nbsp;

They noted that the mass of the gas stream from Pablo's Galaxy was greater than the gas needed to build the base for new star formation. This showed that this galaxy's supermassive black hole is quenching star birth.

"We found the culprit," D’Eugenio said. "The black hole is killing this galaxy and keeping it dormant by cutting off the source of 'food' the galaxy needs to form new stars." 
&nbsp;

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has caught a supermassive black hole in the early universe starving its galaxy to death. Galaxies die when star formation no longer happens.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has caught a supermassive black hole in the early universe starving its galaxy to death. Galaxies die when star formation no longer happens. Astronomers have believed for a long time that the central supermassive black holes might be to blame for this. When the supermassive black hole residing at the centre of a galaxy eats up all the gas and dust, the building blocks of stars, the galaxies can be "killed" prematurely. The "galactic death by starvation" captured by JWST happened very quickly because of the creation of two million miles per hour winds of gas. This is the first time such an effect has been captured on camera, which proves that galaxies can be starved to death. A team of researchers led by University of Cambridge scientists presented the findings. This early galaxy seen by JWST is officially named GS-10578. It has been nicknamed "Pablo’s Galaxy" after the team member who proposed to observe it in detail. Pabalo's galaxy is located around 11.5 billion light-years away from Earth. What the astronomers see today transpired just 2.3 billion years or so after the Big Bang. "Based on earlier observations, we knew this galaxy was in a quenched state: it's not forming many stars given its size, and we expect there is a link between the black hole and the end of star formation," team member Francesco D’Eugenio from Cambridge's Kavli Institute for Cosmology said in a statement. Also Read: Earth likely had a ring around it 466 million years ago. It was created by... "However, until the JWST, we haven't been able to study this galaxy in enough detail to confirm that link, and we haven't known whether this quenched state is temporary or permanent." Dead galaxy in early years of universe The galaxy is about the size of the Milky Way and is unusually humongous for this period in the early universe. It is also strange to see a dead galaxy at this time. Researchers say that it birthed most of its stars between 12.5 billion and 11.5 billion years ago. "In the early universe, most galaxies are forming lots of stars, so it's interesting to see such a massive dead galaxy at this period in time," team member Roberto Maiolino, also from the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, said. Using JWST's data, researchers determined that the supermassive black hole at the heart of Pablo’s Galaxy is pushing vast amounts of gas away at speeds of 2.2 million miles per hour. They noted that the mass of the gas stream from Pablo's Galaxy was greater than the gas needed to build the base for new star formation. This showed that this galaxy's supermassive black hole is quenching star birth. "We found the culprit," D’Eugenio said. "The black hole is killing this galaxy and keeping it dormant by cutting off the source of 'food' the galaxy needs to form new stars."

JWST captures near dead galaxy in ancient universe. 'We found the culprit'

The supermassive black hole located at the centre of our galaxy has been spinning extremely fast and out of orientation with the rest of the galaxy. The reason behind this behaviour and how it came into existence has been a mystery.&nbsp;

Now a new study seems to have the answers to both the questions.&nbsp;

Sagittarius A*, 26,000 light-years away from us, is a gargantuan tear in space-time. It is four million times the mass of our sun and 14.6 million miles (23.5 million kilometres) wide.&nbsp;

The telescope that first captured the black hole's image in 2022 had a lot more data about it. This data was studied by researchers, who believe that Sagittarius A* was born from a cataclysmic merger with another giant black hole billions of years ago. The findings published on September 6 in the journal Nature Astronomy say that the black hole is still showing the effects of this violent collision.&nbsp;

"This discovery paves the way for our understanding of how supermassive black holes grow and evolve," study lead author Yihan Wang, an astrophysicist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), said in a statement.&nbsp;

"The misaligned high spin of Sgr A* indicates that it may have merged with another black hole, dramatically altering its amplitude and orientation of spin."

<h2>Supermassive black holes</h2>

As per the scientists, Sgr A* was born just like any other black hole - after the collapse of a giant star or gas cloud. It then started gobbling up anything that came too close. Black holes can slowly become monstrous in size and feed on other supermassive black holes.

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"This merger likely occurred around 9 billion years ago, following the Milky Way's merger with the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy," study co-author Bing Zhang, a professor of physics and astronomy at UNLV, said in the statement.&nbsp;

Supermassive black holes merge when entire galaxies merge. Milky Way has had several such mergers and collisions in the last 12 billion years, experts say. But, scientists are not sure about the role of black hole mergers in creating supermassive black holes. Can simply feeding on gas and dust turn a black hole into a supermassive black hole?

The new discovery "provides insights into the dynamic history of our galaxy," Zhang added.

The supermassive black hole located at the centre of our galaxy has been spinning extremely fast and out of orientation with the rest of the galaxy. The reason behind this behaviour and how it came into existence has been a mystery.

The supermassive black hole located at the centre of our galaxy has been spinning extremely fast and out of orientation with the rest of the galaxy. The reason behind this behaviour and how it came into existence has been a mystery. Now a new study seems to have the answers to both the questions. Sagittarius A*, 26,000 light-years away from us, is a gargantuan tear in space-time. It is four million times the mass of our sun and 14.6 million miles (23.5 million kilometres) wide. The telescope that first captured the black hole's image in 2022 had a lot more data about it. This data was studied by researchers, who believe that Sagittarius A* was born from a cataclysmic merger with another giant black hole billions of years ago. The findings published on September 6 in the journal Nature Astronomy say that the black hole is still showing the effects of this violent collision. "This discovery paves the way for our understanding of how supermassive black holes grow and evolve," study lead author Yihan Wang, an astrophysicist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), said in a statement. "The misaligned high spin of Sgr A* indicates that it may have merged with another black hole, dramatically altering its amplitude and orientation of spin." Supermassive black holes As per the scientists, Sgr A* was born just like any other black hole - after the collapse of a giant star or gas cloud. It then started gobbling up anything that came too close. Black holes can slowly become monstrous in size and feed on other supermassive black holes. Also Read: Volcano born from 'nothing' on Jupiter's moon lo didn't exist 25 years back "This merger likely occurred around 9 billion years ago, following the Milky Way's merger with the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy," study co-author Bing Zhang, a professor of physics and astronomy at UNLV, said in the statement. Supermassive black holes merge when entire galaxies merge. Milky Way has had several such mergers and collisions in the last 12 billion years, experts say. But, scientists are not sure about the role of black hole mergers in creating supermassive black holes. Can simply feeding on gas and dust turn a black hole into a supermassive black hole? The new discovery "provides insights into the dynamic history of our galaxy," Zhang added.

Mega collision with another galaxy 9 billion years ago created Milky Way black hole

In a new study, scientists have suggested that advanced alien civilisations may have been migrating near miniature black holes to fulfil the energy needs of their home planets.

Aliens exploiting miniature black hole 'moons' for energy: Study

In a new study, scientists have suggested that advanced alien civilisations may have been migrating near&nbsp;miniature black holes to fulfil the energy needs of their home planets.&nbsp;

There is a possibility that these aliens are capturing the unlimited energy around the black holes and taking it back to their planets.&nbsp;

In the study, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has suggested that these black hole “moons” can be a sign of advanced&nbsp;aliens&nbsp;and can help scientists in understanding the life outside the Solar System.

It is known that black holes emit photons and large sub-atomic particles which are collectively called Hawking Radiation, named after physicist&nbsp;Stephen Hawking.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-mantle-is-hosting-strange-black-holes-with-mysterious-waves-heres-what-they-are-753231">Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are</a>

Hawking in 1974 suggested that a black hole is able to shine on its own without the need of an external fuel supply.

The new study was published in the journal&nbsp;Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society and it took into consideration the possibility that technologically&nbsp;advanced alien civilisation may have been creating and tapping their own “mini” black hole for fulfilling their energy needs.

<h2>How aliens are extracting energy from black hole 'moons'?</h2>

The momentum of the&nbsp;rotating disc of matter which is around the black hole is likely to have been utilised by the aliens to produce energy in this system, suggested scientists.

According to Dr Loeb, another way could have been to feed matter in the black hole and create Hawking Radiation.

The Harvard scientist suggested that such kinds of black holes should weigh only 100,000 tonnes.

Dr Loeb said that in exchange for the matter thrown inside black holes, they can provide “an endless supply of&nbsp;power”.

Watch:&nbsp;Nasa selects Musk's SpaceX to rescue astronauts marooned in space

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“This black hole system is the most efficient engine I ever thought about. The fuel is converted to energy with perfect efficiency of 100 per cent as the mass falling into the black hole is ultimately coming out as Hawking Radiation,” Dr Loeb said.

“The only other method for converting mass to radiation with this efficiency is matter-antimatter annihilation,” added the Harvard researcher.

Such black hole systems have the capacity to power roaming rogue planets which do not have a star and can otherwise become uninhabitable and frozen.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study, scientists have suggested that advanced alien civilisations may have been migrating near miniature black holes to fulfil the energy needs of their home planets. There is a possibility that these aliens are capturing the unlimited energy around the black holes and taking it back to their planets. In the study, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has suggested that these black hole “moons” can be a sign of advanced aliens and can help scientists in understanding the life outside the Solar System. It is known that black holes emit photons and large sub-atomic particles which are collectively called Hawking Radiation, named after physicist Stephen Hawking. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are Hawking in 1974 suggested that a black hole is able to shine on its own without the need of an external fuel supply. The new study was published in the journal Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society and it took into consideration the possibility that technologically advanced alien civilisation may have been creating and tapping their own “mini” black hole for fulfilling their energy needs. How aliens are extracting energy from black hole 'moons'? The momentum of the rotating disc of matter which is around the black hole is likely to have been utilised by the aliens to produce energy in this system, suggested scientists. According to Dr Loeb, another way could have been to feed matter in the black hole and create Hawking Radiation. The Harvard scientist suggested that such kinds of black holes should weigh only 100,000 tonnes. Dr Loeb said that in exchange for the matter thrown inside black holes, they can provide “an endless supply of power”. Watch: Nasa selects Musk's SpaceX to rescue astronauts marooned in space “This black hole system is the most efficient engine I ever thought about. The fuel is converted to energy with perfect efficiency of 100 per cent as the mass falling into the black hole is ultimately coming out as Hawking Radiation,” Dr Loeb said. “The only other method for converting mass to radiation with this efficiency is matter-antimatter annihilation,” added the Harvard researcher. Such black hole systems have the capacity to power roaming rogue planets which do not have a star and can otherwise become uninhabitable and frozen. (With inputs from agencies)

Aliens may be exploiting miniature black hole 'moons' for energy: Study

Astronomers have taken a very interesting initiative and introduced an application, known as Black Hole Finder, which can help citizens spot newly-formed black holes.

The app has been launched by the Dutch Black Hole Consortium in eight languages and is now available for citizens to use worldwide. Earlier, it was only available in Dutch and English, but now, the makers have added Spanish, German, Chinese, Bengali, Polish, and Italian which has widened the reach of this app.

Space enthusiasts across the world have been appealed to help scientists identify the sources which are interesting and should be followed up, which is known as potential kilonovas.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-is-on-alert-as-a-massive-aeroplane-sized-asteroid-closely-approaches-earth-751985">NASA is on alert as a massive aeroplane-sized asteroid closely approaches Earth</a>

The first and only kilonova observed was on August 18, 2017, when a brief flash of light led to the merger of two neutron stars. Because of the merger, a stellar-mass black hole was formed.&nbsp;

<h2>AI to guide astronomers in determining interesting sources</h2>

Because there are many candidate sources, artificial intelligence techniques will be used by the astronomers to decide which of those interesting sources can be ignored.

"People are still much better at identifying patterns than our algorithms. By using the app, citizens across the world can help train our AI-algorithms to distinguish between real and false sources and pinpoint the most interesting candidate sources more quickly," Steven Bloemen (Radboud University, the Netherlands), project manager of the BlackGEM telescopes said.

Watch:&nbsp;Stuck in space for 52 days, no way home for astronauts; Helium leaks delaying return

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The citizens who will have a track record of spotting real sources can trigger follow-up observations with the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) network of robotic telescopes.

"The LCO director has kindly agreed to allow citizens to trigger their 0.4m telescopes to conduct follow-up observations directly from the app when the user deems this necessary. This will provide information astronomers can use to determine if one of the real events is a kilonova," added Peter Jonker (Radboud University, the Netherlands), PI of the citizen science app and co-PI of the Dutch Black Hole Consortium.

(With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers have taken a very interesting initiative and introduced an application, known as Black Hole Finder, which can help citizens spot newly-formed black holes.

Astronomers have taken a very interesting initiative and introduced an application, known as Black Hole Finder, which can help citizens spot newly-formed black holes. The app has been launched by the Dutch Black Hole Consortium in eight languages and is now available for citizens to use worldwide. Earlier, it was only available in Dutch and English, but now, the makers have added Spanish, German, Chinese, Bengali, Polish, and Italian which has widened the reach of this app. Space enthusiasts across the world have been appealed to help scientists identify the sources which are interesting and should be followed up, which is known as potential kilonovas. Also Read: NASA is on alert as a massive aeroplane-sized asteroid closely approaches Earth The first and only kilonova observed was on August 18, 2017, when a brief flash of light led to the merger of two neutron stars. Because of the merger, a stellar-mass black hole was formed. AI to guide astronomers in determining interesting sources Because there are many candidate sources, artificial intelligence techniques will be used by the astronomers to decide which of those interesting sources can be ignored. "People are still much better at identifying patterns than our algorithms. By using the app, citizens across the world can help train our AI-algorithms to distinguish between real and false sources and pinpoint the most interesting candidate sources more quickly," Steven Bloemen (Radboud University, the Netherlands), project manager of the BlackGEM telescopes said. Watch: Stuck in space for 52 days, no way home for astronauts; Helium leaks delaying return The citizens who will have a track record of spotting real sources can trigger follow-up observations with the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) network of robotic telescopes. "The LCO director has kindly agreed to allow citizens to trigger their 0.4m telescopes to conduct follow-up observations directly from the app when the user deems this necessary. This will provide information astronomers can use to determine if one of the real events is a kilonova," added Peter Jonker (Radboud University, the Netherlands), PI of the citizen science app and co-PI of the Dutch Black Hole Consortium. (With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers introduce Black Hole Finder for citizens to find newly-formed cosmic gas giants

James Webb Space Telescope has captured a black hole ravenously eating up cosmic bodies. This black hole lies at the centre of the spiral galaxy NGC 4258 located 23 million light-years from Earth. It shreds up everything that comes near it and is gobbling them up. European Space Agency (ESA) shared a photo of the galaxy, explaining the wondrous things happening in it.

"At its heart, as in most spiral galaxies, is a supermassive black hole, but this one is particularly active," the ESA said in a statement. Notably, James Webb was a collaborative effort between ESA, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency.

Black holes are extremely dense and have immense gravitational power. Nothing escapes them, not even light. But this only happens when something comes too close to them. Black holes don't emit light, and the light around them, as seen in the photo shared by ESA, is of the blazing hot material surrounding them.

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Won’t you be our cosmic neighbor, M106? 
 
This galaxy with a very active black hole, is one of the brightest and nearest spirals to ours. Its central region is lit up by its black hole gobbling up dust and gas, which heats up, creating powerful radiation. <a href="https://t.co/UwDj4WUh9i">https://t.co/UwDj4WUh9i</a> <a href="https://t.co/ABSq7smr90">pic.twitter.com/ABSq7smr90</a>
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1821889559195471955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The photo shared by ESA shows cosmic dust and gas heating up and producing glowing light around the galaxy. Almost everything that moves in a black hole's orbit is shredded apart. It starts to spin rapidly around the black hole and becomes a super-hot "accretion disk." The material shoots light and energy into space, with some of it plummeting down into the black hole. It glows up the region near the black hole as it heats up while travelling at extreme speeds.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-spot-intermediate-mass-black-hole-lurking-at-centre-of-milky-way-star-cluster-742691">Scientists spot intermediate-mass black hole lurking at centre of Milky Way star cluster</a>

The photo shows the vivid glow at the centre of the spiral galaxy NGC 4258. Several tiny spots of light can also be seen in the photo, which are nothing but distant stars. However, all the light being emitted will stop once the supermassive black hole passes the final boundary between space and the black hole.

WATCH:&nbsp;Is this "Black Hole Awakening" the biggest find in Astronomy?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Two sprawling green outflows seen in the picture are made of hot gas, the ESA said. "They are likely caused by outflowing material produced by the violent churning of gas around the black hole, creating a phenomenon analogous to a wave crashing up out of the ocean when it hits a rock near the shore," the space agency explained.

<h2>Black hole in Milky Way</h2>

Our galaxy also has a huge black hole at its centre. However, it is not eating up cosmic bodies like our neighbour. It lies 0.1 light years away from the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (SgrA*) where the scientists had been observing a cluster of stars called IRS 13. Stars here have been moving in an unexpected manner. This prompted two theories - either the star cluster is interacting with a black hole or something is present inside the cluster.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

James Webb Space Telescope has captured a black hole ravenously eating up cosmic bodies. This black hole lies at the centre of the spiral galaxy NGC 4258 located 23 million light-years from Earth.

James Webb Space Telescope has captured a black hole ravenously eating up cosmic bodies. This black hole lies at the centre of the spiral galaxy NGC 4258 located 23 million light-years from Earth. It shreds up everything that comes near it and is gobbling them up. European Space Agency (ESA) shared a photo of the galaxy, explaining the wondrous things happening in it. "At its heart, as in most spiral galaxies, is a supermassive black hole, but this one is particularly active," the ESA said in a statement. Notably, James Webb was a collaborative effort between ESA, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. Black holes are extremely dense and have immense gravitational power. Nothing escapes them, not even light. But this only happens when something comes too close to them. Black holes don't emit light, and the light around them, as seen in the photo shared by ESA, is of the blazing hot material surrounding them. Won’t you be our cosmic neighbor, M106? This galaxy with a very active black hole, is one of the brightest and nearest spirals to ours. Its central region is lit up by its black hole gobbling up dust and gas, which heats up, creating powerful radiation. https://t.co/UwDj4WUh9i pic.twitter.com/ABSq7smr90 — NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) August 9, 2024 × The photo shared by ESA shows cosmic dust and gas heating up and producing glowing light around the galaxy. Almost everything that moves in a black hole's orbit is shredded apart. It starts to spin rapidly around the black hole and becomes a super-hot "accretion disk." The material shoots light and energy into space, with some of it plummeting down into the black hole. It glows up the region near the black hole as it heats up while travelling at extreme speeds. Also Read: Scientists spot intermediate-mass black hole lurking at centre of Milky Way star cluster The photo shows the vivid glow at the centre of the spiral galaxy NGC 4258. Several tiny spots of light can also be seen in the photo, which are nothing but distant stars. However, all the light being emitted will stop once the supermassive black hole passes the final boundary between space and the black hole. WATCH: Is this "Black Hole Awakening" the biggest find in Astronomy? × Two sprawling green outflows seen in the picture are made of hot gas, the ESA said. "They are likely caused by outflowing material produced by the violent churning of gas around the black hole, creating a phenomenon analogous to a wave crashing up out of the ocean when it hits a rock near the shore," the space agency explained. Black hole in Milky Way Our galaxy also has a huge black hole at its centre. However, it is not eating up cosmic bodies like our neighbour. It lies 0.1 light years away from the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (SgrA*) where the scientists had been observing a cluster of stars called IRS 13. Stars here have been moving in an unexpected manner. This prompted two theories - either the star cluster is interacting with a black hole or something is present inside the cluster.

Super-hungry black hole with an eerie glow is eating everything. See photo

Scientists have found a new connection between dark matter particles and supermassive black holes (SMBHs) which has the potential to resolve the longstanding “final parsec problem” in the field of astronomy.

Scientists have found a new connection between dark matter particles and supermassive black holes (SMBHs) which has the potential to resolve the longstanding “final parsec problem” in the field of astronomy. The research published in the journal Physical Review Letters suggests that the dark matter particles' behaviours, which were earlier overlooked, led to the merger of SMBH pairs into one larger black hole. A pervasive “hum” of gravitational waves was detected by astrophysicists in 2023 across the universe. It was then hypothesised that background signal was released from millions of merging SMBH pairs, each of which was billions of times more massive in comparison to our Sun. Also Read: Scientists spot intermediate-mass black hole lurking at centre of Milky Way star cluster The theoretical simulations indicated that these colossal objects stall the approach when they are nearly a parsec apart (about three light years), which prevents a merger. Here's how the team carried out the study Study co-author Gonzalo Alonso-Álvarez, who is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto, said, “We show that including the previously overlooked effect of dark matter can help supermassive black holes overcome this final parsec of separation and coalesce." “Our calculations explain how that can occur, in contrast to what was previously thought,” Alonso-Álvarez added. Professor James Cline from McGill University headed the research. A new model was developed by the team in which it was proved that when dark matter particles interact with each other, they do not get dispersed. In this interaction, it was maintained that the density of the dark matter is halo which allowed the SMBHs to go spiralling inward and then merge. Watch: Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August According to the scientists, supermassive black holes are present at the centre of most of the galaxies. Therefore, when the collision between two galaxies occurs, the SMBHs fall into orbit near each other. When they revolve, they are slowed down by the gravitational pull of nearby stars which causes them to spiral inward. “The possibility that dark matter particles interact with each other is an assumption that we made, an extra ingredient that not all dark matter models contain. Our argument is that only models with that ingredient can solve the final parsec problem," Alonso-Álvarez said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find the force behind the black hole mergers. It's mysterious dark matter!

Scientists have been stunned to discover another intermediate-mass black hole at the centre of a star cluster in the Milky Way, which is close to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (SgrA*).

The&nbsp;University of Cologne's research team headed by Dr Florian Peißker made the unusual discovery of another intermediate-mass black hole at the centre of the galaxy.

The intermediate-mass black holes are considered one of the most puzzling mysteries in the universe.&nbsp;

Even after researching them at a great length, scientists have only been able to discover a handful of them to date.&nbsp;

As per the scientific consensus, such celestial anomalies were formed after the Big Bang and played a major role as "seeds" in the growth and formation of the supermassive black holes.

Dr. Peißker and his team have been observing a cluster of stars called IRS 13. This cluster is very close to a supermassive black hole which is called the Sagittarius A* (SgrA*).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-spot-closest-massive-black-hole-to-earth-say-it-is-frozen-in-time-740513">Astronomers&nbsp;spot closest massive black hole to Earth, say it is 'frozen in time'</a>

The star cluster is 0.1 light years away from Sagittarius A* which in astronomical terms is a short distance.

The scientist also observed that the stars are moving in an unexpected manner in IRS 13 which suggests&nbsp;that either the star cluster is interacting with the black hole which is affecting the motion of the stars or something is present inside the cluster which is helping it to remain in compact shape.

<h2>Mysterious black hole at the centre of the cluster</h2>

The scientists made multi-wavelength observations with the help of the Chandra, ALMA and found the mysterious black hole at the centre of the star cluster.

They also&nbsp;found that IRS 13 was able to maintain a compact shape because an intermediate-mass black hole was present at its centre.

Other observations like characteristic X-rays and ionised gas which are rotating at breakneck speeds also supported the theory that&nbsp;an intermediate-mass black hole was&nbsp;present there.

Watch:&nbsp;Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August

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The star cluster also had an unusually high density which was said to be&nbsp;higher than any known density of a star cluster present in our Milky Way.&nbsp;

“IRS 13 appears to be an essential building block for the growth of our central black hole SgrA*,” Dr. Peißker said.&nbsp;

This discovery also explains how these intermediate-mass black holes have been their supermassive counterparts' building blocks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have been stunned to discover another intermediate-mass black hole at the centre of a star cluster in the Milky Way, which is close to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (SgrA*).

Scientists have been stunned to discover another intermediate-mass black hole at the centre of a star cluster in the Milky Way, which is close to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (SgrA*). The University of Cologne's research team headed by Dr Florian Peißker made the unusual discovery of another intermediate-mass black hole at the centre of the galaxy. The intermediate-mass black holes are considered one of the most puzzling mysteries in the universe. Even after researching them at a great length, scientists have only been able to discover a handful of them to date. As per the scientific consensus, such celestial anomalies were formed after the Big Bang and played a major role as "seeds" in the growth and formation of the supermassive black holes. Dr. Peißker and his team have been observing a cluster of stars called IRS 13. This cluster is very close to a supermassive black hole which is called the Sagittarius A* (SgrA*). Also Read: Astronomers spot closest massive black hole to Earth, say it is 'frozen in time' The star cluster is 0.1 light years away from Sagittarius A* which in astronomical terms is a short distance. The scientist also observed that the stars are moving in an unexpected manner in IRS 13 which suggests that either the star cluster is interacting with the black hole which is affecting the motion of the stars or something is present inside the cluster which is helping it to remain in compact shape. Mysterious black hole at the centre of the cluster The scientists made multi-wavelength observations with the help of the Chandra, ALMA and found the mysterious black hole at the centre of the star cluster. They also found that IRS 13 was able to maintain a compact shape because an intermediate-mass black hole was present at its centre. Other observations like characteristic X-rays and ionised gas which are rotating at breakneck speeds also supported the theory that an intermediate-mass black hole was present there. Watch: Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August The star cluster also had an unusually high density which was said to be higher than any known density of a star cluster present in our Milky Way. “IRS 13 appears to be an essential building block for the growth of our central black hole SgrA*,” Dr. Peißker said. This discovery also explains how these intermediate-mass black holes have been their supermassive counterparts' building blocks. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists spot intermediate-mass black hole lurking at centre of Milky Way star cluster

Astronomers have spotted a massive black hole which is closest to the Earth and appears to be "frozen in time". It was spotted with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope.

The cosmic object appears to be an elusive "intermediate-mass black hole" and is likely to serve as a missing link in understanding the connection between supermassive black holes and stellar mass black holes.&nbsp;

The black hole is said to have a mass of nearly 8,200 suns which means it is more massive in comparison to the stellar-mass black holes, which have masses between 5 and 100 times that of the sun.

The study's lead from the &nbsp;University of Utah, Anil Seth&nbsp;said, “This is a once-in-a-career kind of finding. I’ve been excited about it for nine straight months. Every time I think about it, I have a hard time sleeping."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/house-for-astronauts-indian-startup-discusses-launch-of-space-habitat-by-2027-with-spacex-739929">House for astronauts? Indian startup discusses launch of 'space habitat' by 2027 with SpaceX</a>

“I think that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This is really, truly extraordinary evidence," he added.

The closest stellar-mass black hole to have ever been discovered is Gaia-BH1, which is just&nbsp;1,560 light-years away.

The intermediate-mass black hole is present in a collection of nearly ten million stars called&nbsp;Omega Centauri, which is 18,000 light-years from Earth.

<h2>Stellar black holes vs supermassive black holes</h2>

Black holes are created on the collapse of extremely large stars as they run out of their fuel.&nbsp;

The 'stellar black holes' in size are only a few times the mass of our sun and the monstrous 'supermassive black holes' which have millions or billions of stellar masses.

The University of Utah's undergraduate student and co-author Matthew Whittaker said, "There are black holes a little heavier than our sun that are like ants or spiders—they’re hard to spot, but kind of everywhere throughout the universe."

"Then you've got supermassive black holes that are like Godzilla in the centres of galaxies tearing things up, and we can see them easily," he added.

Watch:&nbsp;Defunct Russian satellite generated space debris, threatening astronauts, space station

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It is very difficult to observe the 'intermediate black holes' since the massive black holes are generally located at the centre of the galaxies.&nbsp;

"These intermediate-mass black holes are kind of on the level of Bigfoot. Spotting them is like finding the first evidence for Bigfoot—people are going to freak out," Whittaker said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers have spotted a massive black hole which is closest to the Earth and appears to be "frozen in time". It was spotted with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Astronomers have spotted a massive black hole which is closest to the Earth and appears to be "frozen in time". It was spotted with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope. The cosmic object appears to be an elusive "intermediate-mass black hole" and is likely to serve as a missing link in understanding the connection between supermassive black holes and stellar mass black holes. The black hole is said to have a mass of nearly 8,200 suns which means it is more massive in comparison to the stellar-mass black holes, which have masses between 5 and 100 times that of the sun. The study's lead from the University of Utah, Anil Seth said, “This is a once-in-a-career kind of finding. I’ve been excited about it for nine straight months. Every time I think about it, I have a hard time sleeping." Also Read: House for astronauts? Indian startup discusses launch of 'space habitat' by 2027 with SpaceX “I think that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This is really, truly extraordinary evidence," he added. The closest stellar-mass black hole to have ever been discovered is Gaia-BH1, which is just 1,560 light-years away. The intermediate-mass black hole is present in a collection of nearly ten million stars called Omega Centauri, which is 18,000 light-years from Earth. Stellar black holes vs supermassive black holes Black holes are created on the collapse of extremely large stars as they run out of their fuel. The 'stellar black holes' in size are only a few times the mass of our sun and the monstrous 'supermassive black holes' which have millions or billions of stellar masses. The University of Utah's undergraduate student and co-author Matthew Whittaker said, "There are black holes a little heavier than our sun that are like ants or spiders—they’re hard to spot, but kind of everywhere throughout the universe." "Then you've got supermassive black holes that are like Godzilla in the centres of galaxies tearing things up, and we can see them easily," he added. Watch: Defunct Russian satellite generated space debris, threatening astronauts, space station It is very difficult to observe the 'intermediate black holes' since the massive black holes are generally located at the centre of the galaxies. "These intermediate-mass black holes are kind of on the level of Bigfoot. Spotting them is like finding the first evidence for Bigfoot—people are going to freak out," Whittaker said. (With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers spot closest massive black hole to Earth, say it is 'frozen in time'

Stars at the centre of our galaxy appear younger even though they are quite old, a team of researchers has stated in a paper. These stars appear to be feeding off an unlikely source, a team of scientists from Stanford and Stockholm Universities that studied the stars have claimed. A massive black hole lies at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy and the stars at the core are thriving in an unfavourable environment where new stars should not ideally be birthed. So what is keeping them young?&nbsp;

The scientists say that dark matter is acting like a fountain of youth for these stars. Isabelle John, a doctoral student in astrophysics at Stockholm University, tried to understand if dark matter was what was keeping these stars young.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-says-boeing-starliner-crew-not-stranded-in-space-but-has-no-date-of-their-return-to-earth-736169">NASA says Boeing Starliner crew not 'stranded' in space, but has 'no date' of their return to Earth</a>

<h2>How does dark matter keep these stars young?</h2>

They ran computer simulations which revealed that these stars aren't as young as they might appear, and are glowing as bright as they are because of dark matter. These so-called young stars capture dark matter particles which then collide and release energy that acts as fuel for their youth.

So while these stars have lost their nuclear fuel, they are stable and still youthful because of the energy provided by dark matter particles.&nbsp;

Studies have proved that the stars near the centre of the Milky Way go against the general theories of stellar evolution.

"Our simulations show that if stars can collect large amounts of dark matter, which annihilates inside the star, this can provide a similar outward pressure, making the star stable due to dark matter annihilation rather than nuclear fusion — so stars can use dark matter as a fuel instead of hydrogen," Isabelle John said.

Scientists have also observed that a lot more dark matter is present at the centre of the galaxy, further giving a push to the theory of dark matter keeping these stars young.

Stars at the centre of our galaxy appear younger even though they are quite old, a team of researchers has stated in a paper. These stars appear to be feeding off an unlikely source, a team of scientists from Stanford and Stockholm Universities that studied the stars have claimed.

Stars at the centre of our galaxy appear younger even though they are quite old, a team of researchers has stated in a paper. These stars appear to be feeding off an unlikely source, a team of scientists from Stanford and Stockholm Universities that studied the stars have claimed. A massive black hole lies at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy and the stars at the core are thriving in an unfavourable environment where new stars should not ideally be birthed. So what is keeping them young? The scientists say that dark matter is acting like a fountain of youth for these stars. Isabelle John, a doctoral student in astrophysics at Stockholm University, tried to understand if dark matter was what was keeping these stars young. Also Read: NASA says Boeing Starliner crew not 'stranded' in space, but has 'no date' of their return to Earth How does dark matter keep these stars young? They ran computer simulations which revealed that these stars aren't as young as they might appear, and are glowing as bright as they are because of dark matter. These so-called young stars capture dark matter particles which then collide and release energy that acts as fuel for their youth. So while these stars have lost their nuclear fuel, they are stable and still youthful because of the energy provided by dark matter particles. Studies have proved that the stars near the centre of the Milky Way go against the general theories of stellar evolution. "Our simulations show that if stars can collect large amounts of dark matter, which annihilates inside the star, this can provide a similar outward pressure, making the star stable due to dark matter annihilation rather than nuclear fusion — so stars can use dark matter as a fuel instead of hydrogen," Isabelle John said. Scientists have also observed that a lot more dark matter is present at the centre of the galaxy, further giving a push to the theory of dark matter keeping these stars young.

A fountain of youth is feeding the stars at the core of our galaxy

A latest international study indicates that astronomers might have chanced upon a never-before phenomenon - the awakening of a Black Hole in a faraway Galaxy. In this report, we'll break this down for you and explain why it matters.

Gravitas: Is this "Black Hole Awakening" the biggest find in Astronomy?

Astronomers have traced the mysterious brightening of a distant galaxy in the Virgo constellation to the awakening of a colossal black hole, estimated to be 1 million times more massive than the sun.

The galaxy known by the codename SDSS1335+0728, situated 300 million light years away, showed no remarkable features for decades. This changed dramatically at the end of 2019 when scientists noticed a massive surge in its luminosity.&nbsp;

A staff astronomer at the European Southern Observatory in Garching, Germany&nbsp;Dr Paula Sanchez-Saez said,&nbsp;"We discovered this source at the moment it started to show these variations in luminosity."

"It's the first time we've seen this in real time."

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The sudden brightening of the galaxy was first detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California in December 2019.

This observatory recorded an unexpected increase in the galaxy's brightness, prompting astronomers worldwide to conduct new observations and review past measurements from both ground and space-based telescopes.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/atoco-point-nasas-rover-spots-strikingly-mysterious-rock-never-seen-before-on-mars-732906">‘Atoco Point’: NASA’s rover spots strikingly mysterious rock never seen before on Mars</a>

Their research revealed that the galaxy had recently doubled in brightness in the mid-infrared wavelengths, quadrupled in ultraviolet brightness, and increased tenfold in X-ray brightness.

The cause of this dramatic change remains uncertain.

However, in a paper published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, researchers propose that the most plausible explanation is the formation of an "active galactic nucleus."

This phenomenon occurs when a vast black hole at the centre&nbsp;of a galaxy begins actively consuming surrounding material, emitting a broad spectrum of light as gas around the black hole heats up and glows.

Watch | Study: Secret aliens could be here on Earth already

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Dust particles around the black hole also absorb and re-radiate various wavelengths of light.

Another potential explanation is an exotic "tidal disruption event," a process where a star is torn apart after wandering too close to a black hole.

Typically, tidal disruption events brighten a galaxy for only a few hundred days, which makes this scenario less likely but not impossible. More data is required to rule it out completely.

(With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers have traced the mysterious brightening of a distant galaxy in the Virgo constellation to the awakening of a colossal black hole, estimated to be 1 million times more massive than the sun.

Astronomers have traced the mysterious brightening of a distant galaxy in the Virgo constellation to the awakening of a colossal black hole, estimated to be 1 million times more massive than the sun. The galaxy known by the codename SDSS1335+0728, situated 300 million light years away, showed no remarkable features for decades. This changed dramatically at the end of 2019 when scientists noticed a massive surge in its luminosity. A staff astronomer at the European Southern Observatory in Garching, Germany Dr Paula Sanchez-Saez said, "We discovered this source at the moment it started to show these variations in luminosity." "It's the first time we've seen this in real time." Also Read | Scorching heatwave set to sear northeastern US, break records and spark health concerns The sudden brightening of the galaxy was first detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California in December 2019. This observatory recorded an unexpected increase in the galaxy's brightness, prompting astronomers worldwide to conduct new observations and review past measurements from both ground and space-based telescopes. Also Read | ‘Atoco Point’: NASA’s rover spots strikingly mysterious rock never seen before on Mars Their research revealed that the galaxy had recently doubled in brightness in the mid-infrared wavelengths, quadrupled in ultraviolet brightness, and increased tenfold in X-ray brightness. The cause of this dramatic change remains uncertain. However, in a paper published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, researchers propose that the most plausible explanation is the formation of an "active galactic nucleus." This phenomenon occurs when a vast black hole at the centre of a galaxy begins actively consuming surrounding material, emitting a broad spectrum of light as gas around the black hole heats up and glows. Watch | Study: Secret aliens could be here on Earth already × Dust particles around the black hole also absorb and re-radiate various wavelengths of light. Another potential explanation is an exotic "tidal disruption event," a process where a star is torn apart after wandering too close to a black hole. Typically, tidal disruption events brighten a galaxy for only a few hundred days, which makes this scenario less likely but not impossible. More data is required to rule it out completely. (With inputs from agencies)

Mysterious brightening of distant galaxy traced to awakening giant black hole

Astronomers, with the help of the Hubble telescope, have now detected a rare intermediate-size black hole.&nbsp;

This black hole is hiding the Earth's cosmic backyard at a distance of 6,000 light-years away within a globular star cluster.&nbsp;

The iconic Hubble Space Telescope has been used by astronomers to observe a compact region of space which has a mass of 800 Suns and is likely to be a black hole.

As per a press statement, the scientists claimed that they had discovered the “best evidence yet for the presence of a rare class of intermediate-sized black holes.”

The intermediate-mass black hole candidate is located nearly 6,000 light-years away and the nearby star cluster Messier 4's core.

Also&nbsp;Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/black-holes-captured-acting-like-a-death-stars-weapon-point-jets-at-new-targets-726326">Black holes captured acting like a Death Star’s weapon, point jets at new targets</a>

It is an ultradense region of space filled with the mass of 800 suns, which leads to nearby stars orbiting it like "bees swarming around a hive," as per the researchers who detected it.

In a statement, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland's study lead author&nbsp;and astrophysicist Eduardo Vitral said, "It's too tiny for us to be able to explain other than it being a single black hole. Alternatively, there might be a stellar mechanism we simply don't know about, at least within current physics."

<h2>How did the scientists detect black holes?</h2>

The data collected by the European Space Agency's star-mapping&nbsp;Gaia spacecraft was used by the team to study the chaotic motion of stars at M4's centre.&nbsp;

In this region, they are trapped in the gravitational field of suspected black holes, "like bees swarming around a hive," said the team members.

"If the object isn't a single intermediate-mass black hole, it would require an estimated 40 smaller black holes crammed into a space only one-tenth of a light-year across to produce the observed stellar motions," wrote team members, in the same statement.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists unveil Black Hole's plunge, bizarre region around black holes found

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"The consequences are that they would merge and/or be ejected in a game of interstellar pinball," he added.

<h2>What are intermediate-mass black holes?&nbsp;</h2>

Intermediate-mass black holes, which range between 100 to 100,000 times the sun's mass, are among the most elusive black holes present in the universe.&nbsp;

Although scientists have found several promising candidates, they have not confirmed the existence of any intermediate-mass black holes.

In a statement, project scientist at the Gaia telescope Timo Prusti said, "Science is rarely about discovering something new in a single moment. It’s about becoming more certain of a conclusion step by step, and this could be one step towards being sure that intermediate-mass black holes exist."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Astronomers, with the help of the Hubble telescope, have now detected a rare intermediate-size black hole. This black hole is hiding the Earth's cosmic backyard at a distance of 6,000 light-years away within a globular star cluster.

Astronomers, with the help of the Hubble telescope, have now detected a rare intermediate-size black hole. This black hole is hiding the Earth's cosmic backyard at a distance of 6,000 light-years away within a globular star cluster. The iconic Hubble Space Telescope has been used by astronomers to observe a compact region of space which has a mass of 800 Suns and is likely to be a black hole. As per a press statement, the scientists claimed that they had discovered the “best evidence yet for the presence of a rare class of intermediate-sized black holes.” The intermediate-mass black hole candidate is located nearly 6,000 light-years away and the nearby star cluster Messier 4's core. Also Read: Black holes captured acting like a Death Star’s weapon, point jets at new targets It is an ultradense region of space filled with the mass of 800 suns, which leads to nearby stars orbiting it like "bees swarming around a hive," as per the researchers who detected it. In a statement, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland's study lead author and astrophysicist Eduardo Vitral said, "It's too tiny for us to be able to explain other than it being a single black hole. Alternatively, there might be a stellar mechanism we simply don't know about, at least within current physics." How did the scientists detect black holes? The data collected by the European Space Agency's star-mapping Gaia spacecraft was used by the team to study the chaotic motion of stars at M4's centre. In this region, they are trapped in the gravitational field of suspected black holes, "like bees swarming around a hive," said the team members. "If the object isn't a single intermediate-mass black hole, it would require an estimated 40 smaller black holes crammed into a space only one-tenth of a light-year across to produce the observed stellar motions," wrote team members, in the same statement. Watch: Scientists unveil Black Hole's plunge, bizarre region around black holes found "The consequences are that they would merge and/or be ejected in a game of interstellar pinball," he added. What are intermediate-mass black holes? Intermediate-mass black holes, which range between 100 to 100,000 times the sun's mass, are among the most elusive black holes present in the universe. Although scientists have found several promising candidates, they have not confirmed the existence of any intermediate-mass black holes. In a statement, project scientist at the Gaia telescope Timo Prusti said, "Science is rarely about discovering something new in a single moment. It’s about becoming more certain of a conclusion step by step, and this could be one step towards being sure that intermediate-mass black holes exist." (With inputs from agencies)

A rare black hole is lurking 6,000 light-years away in Earth's cosmic backyard

Massive stars eventually explode in a magnificent supernova, after which they explode. Scientists discovered that certain big stars have just departed, leaving no trace in the night sky.&nbsp;

A recent study published in Physical Review Letters conducted by an international team under the direction of astronomer Alejandro Vigna-Gómez from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany and the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark reveals that certain massive stars&nbsp;die quietly rather than with a massive explosion.

They discovered VFTS 243, a binary system in the Large Magellanic Cloud that includes a black hole and a companion star. According to current theories, the birth of the black hole should have been preceded by a supernova explosion, yet this system exhibits none.

"Were one to stand gazing up at a visible star going through a total collapse, it might, just at the right time, be like watching a star suddenly extinguish and disappear from the heavens," Vigna-Gómez said.

"The collapse is so complete that no explosion occurs, nothing escapes and one wouldn't see any bright supernova in the night sky. Astronomers have actually observed the sudden disappearance of brightly shining stars in recent times. We cannot be sure of a connection, but the results we have obtained from analyzing VFTS 243 has brought us much closer to a credible explanation," Vigna-Gómez added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sygazers-assemble-six-planets-are-set-to-align-in-spectacular-view-for-planet-parade-in-june-details-724934">Skygazers assemble! Six planets are set to align in spectacular view for 'planet parade' in June | Details</a>

When a star with a mass more than around 8 times that of the Sun goes supernova, the results are very chaotic. A black hole, neutron star, or ultradense object is created when the core of a star collapses due to gravity, depending on the mass of the initial star.

The VFTS 243 system is quite intriguing. It is made up of a giant star that is around 25 times the mass of the Sun and 7.4 million years old, as well as a black hole that is roughly 10 times as big.

Although we can't see the black hole directly, we can estimate it using the orbital velocity of its partner star&nbsp;and&nbsp;deduce additional information about the system.

A increasing amount of data points to the possibility that huge stars might occasionally fall straight into black holes without going through a supernova or earning 200 space dollars. The strongest evidence for this scenario is found in VFTS 243.

"Our results highlight VFTS 243 as the best observable case so far for the theory of stellar black holes formed through total collapse, where the supernova explosion fails and which our models have shown to be possible," says astrophysicist Irene Tamborra of the Niels Bohr Institute. 
&nbsp; 
(With inputs from agencies)

Massive stars eventually explode in a magnificent supernova, after which they explode. Scientists discovered that certain big stars have just departed, leaving no trace in the night sky.

Massive stars eventually explode in a magnificent supernova, after which they explode. Scientists discovered that certain big stars have just departed, leaving no trace in the night sky. A recent study published in Physical Review Letters conducted by an international team under the direction of astronomer Alejandro Vigna-Gómez from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany and the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark reveals that certain massive stars die quietly rather than with a massive explosion. They discovered VFTS 243, a binary system in the Large Magellanic Cloud that includes a black hole and a companion star. According to current theories, the birth of the black hole should have been preceded by a supernova explosion, yet this system exhibits none. "Were one to stand gazing up at a visible star going through a total collapse, it might, just at the right time, be like watching a star suddenly extinguish and disappear from the heavens," Vigna-Gómez said. "The collapse is so complete that no explosion occurs, nothing escapes and one wouldn't see any bright supernova in the night sky. Astronomers have actually observed the sudden disappearance of brightly shining stars in recent times. We cannot be sure of a connection, but the results we have obtained from analyzing VFTS 243 has brought us much closer to a credible explanation," Vigna-Gómez added. Also read: Skygazers assemble! Six planets are set to align in spectacular view for 'planet parade' in June | Details When a star with a mass more than around 8 times that of the Sun goes supernova, the results are very chaotic. A black hole, neutron star, or ultradense object is created when the core of a star collapses due to gravity, depending on the mass of the initial star. The VFTS 243 system is quite intriguing. It is made up of a giant star that is around 25 times the mass of the Sun and 7.4 million years old, as well as a black hole that is roughly 10 times as big. Although we can't see the black hole directly, we can estimate it using the orbital velocity of its partner star and deduce additional information about the system. A increasing amount of data points to the possibility that huge stars might occasionally fall straight into black holes without going through a supernova or earning 200 space dollars. The strongest evidence for this scenario is found in VFTS 243. "Our results highlight VFTS 243 as the best observable case so far for the theory of stellar black holes formed through total collapse, where the supernova explosion fails and which our models have shown to be possible," says astrophysicist Irene Tamborra of the Niels Bohr Institute. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find stars that quietly 'die' without supernova explosions

In a new study, it has been found that an unusual candidate for dark matter, which can be referred to as parasite black holes, is likely to be lurking inside stars and slowly devouring them from the inside. 
 
The study, which was led by astrophysicist Earl Bellinger of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and Yale University, said that teeny tiny black holes – which were created at the dawn of the time – may have been incorporated into Sun-like stars, and are likely to be present at their cores ever since and slowly slurping up the matter and creating more black holes. 
 
The study has further examined how such parasitism would affect the stars and how they can be recognised out there in the Universe if scientists happen to cross them.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/supermassive-black-hole-in-our-galaxy-spinning-rapidly-altering-space-time-around-it-scientists-664371">Supermassive black hole in our galaxy spinning rapidly, altering space-time around it: Scientis</a>ts

"We find that such objects can be surprisingly long-lived, with the lightest black holes having no influence over stellar evolution, while more massive ones consume the star over time to produce a range of observable consequences," said the researchers, in their paper. 
 
"The unique internal structures of stars harbouring black holes may make it possible for asteroseismology to discover them, should they exist,” he added.

<h2>Do tiny black holes really exist?</h2>

The universe is filled with black holes of different sizes. Scientists have spotted black holes with stellar mass ranges which are likely formed from a massive star's core collapse at the end of its life and the mergers that happen. 
 
The universe also has supermassive monsters, which are millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun and are present at the core of every galaxy. The universe also has black holes with masses in between, which are elusive but are emerging in increasing numbers. 
 
However, till now scientists have not been able to find tiny black holes, which have masses similar to planets, moons, or asteroids. There is not enough mass in these objects and hence, the gravity to collapse is as dense as a black hole.

Watch:&nbsp;Milky way's mysteries: The curious case of missing stars

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According to the researchers, they can study various stars to understand the signs of a black hole engine. It is expected that the black hole accretion is likely to produce various acoustic patterns inside the star. 
 
"This presents an opportunity to either discover such objects, or to place bounds on their number and capture rate," stated the researchers. 
 
"The implications for stars in more advanced evolutionary stages, numerical results for stars of different masses and metallicities, and investigations into stellar populations will also be explored in future works,” they added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new study, it has been found that an unusual candidate for dark matter, which can be referred to as parasite black holes, is likely to be lurking inside stars and slowly devouring them from the inside.

In a new study, it has been found that an unusual candidate for dark matter, which can be referred to as parasite black holes, is likely to be lurking inside stars and slowly devouring them from the inside. The study, which was led by astrophysicist Earl Bellinger of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and Yale University, said that teeny tiny black holes – which were created at the dawn of the time – may have been incorporated into Sun-like stars, and are likely to be present at their cores ever since and slowly slurping up the matter and creating more black holes. The study has further examined how such parasitism would affect the stars and how they can be recognised out there in the Universe if scientists happen to cross them. Also read: Supermassive black hole in our galaxy spinning rapidly, altering space-time around it: Scientists "We find that such objects can be surprisingly long-lived, with the lightest black holes having no influence over stellar evolution, while more massive ones consume the star over time to produce a range of observable consequences," said the researchers, in their paper. "The unique internal structures of stars harbouring black holes may make it possible for asteroseismology to discover them, should they exist,” he added. Do tiny black holes really exist? The universe is filled with black holes of different sizes. Scientists have spotted black holes with stellar mass ranges which are likely formed from a massive star's core collapse at the end of its life and the mergers that happen. The universe also has supermassive monsters, which are millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun and are present at the core of every galaxy. The universe also has black holes with masses in between, which are elusive but are emerging in increasing numbers. However, till now scientists have not been able to find tiny black holes, which have masses similar to planets, moons, or asteroids. There is not enough mass in these objects and hence, the gravity to collapse is as dense as a black hole. Watch: Milky way's mysteries: The curious case of missing stars According to the researchers, they can study various stars to understand the signs of a black hole engine. It is expected that the black hole accretion is likely to produce various acoustic patterns inside the star. "This presents an opportunity to either discover such objects, or to place bounds on their number and capture rate," stated the researchers. "The implications for stars in more advanced evolutionary stages, numerical results for stars of different masses and metallicities, and investigations into stellar populations will also be explored in future works,” they added. (With inputs from agencies)

Parasite black holes devouring stars from inside, says study

The European Space Agency, with the help of Gaia mission’s data, discovered a new family of black holes which are unique in nature. The two black holes discovered are the closest ones to the Earth till date.

Black hole Gaia BH1 is at a distance of 1560 light-years&nbsp;from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus and Gaia BH2 is located 3800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus.

In cosmic terms, the distance is not far and scientists have stated that two black holes are just in our cosmic backyard.

The wobbles, which were created in their companion stars’ movement, picked the two black holes.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-ultramassive-black-hole-that-can-fit-30-billion-suns-577144">Scientists discover ultramassive black hole that can fit 30 billion suns</a>

The presence of wobble meant that the stars were not alone and proved that they were orbiting a huge object, which is ten times bigger than our Sun.

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1/ 🕳️🕳️ <a href="https://twitter.com/ESAGaia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESAGaia</a> has discovered the two closest black holes to Earth ever found! 
This discovery alludes to a new family of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blackholes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blackholes</a> which is invisible, relatively ‘close-by’ and has stellar companions in large orbits around them ✨<a href="https://t.co/6cIfUGMmfU">https://t.co/6cIfUGMmfU</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GaiaMission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GaiaMission</a> <a href="https://t.co/y2qlJpa67R">pic.twitter.com/y2qlJpa67R</a>
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Scientists claimed that the space objects were totally invisible, and black and can only be detected because of the gravitational effects.

“What sets this new group of black holes apart from the ones we already knew about is their wide separation from their companion stars. These black holes likely have a completely different formation history than X-ray binaries," said Kareem El-Badry, who discovered the new black holes, in a statement.

The discovery of black holes was part of the analysis carried out on data which was beamed back by the Gaia mission, which was measuring the motions and positions of billions of stars present in our universe.

WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life

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The changing position of stars against the sky can provide essential clues about objects which influences these stars gravitationally.

Although Gaia data revealed massive objects’ presence around the stars, Chandra X-ray Observatory and the South African MeerKAT radio telescope’s observations failed to detect any emission, which is a characteristic found in black holes.

"There are a lot of particles coming off the companion star in the form of stellar wind. But because we didn't see any radio light, that tells us the black hole isn't a great eater and not many particles are crossing its event horizon. We don’t know why that is, but we want to find out,” said Yvette Cendes, who assisted in the discovery of the second black hole.

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The European Space Agency, with the help of Gaia mission’s data, discovered a new family of black holes which are unique in nature. The two black holes discovered are the closest ones to the Earth till date.

The European Space Agency, with the help of Gaia mission’s data, discovered a new family of black holes which are unique in nature. The two black holes discovered are the closest ones to the Earth till date. Black hole Gaia BH1 is at a distance of 1560 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus and Gaia BH2 is located 3800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus. In cosmic terms, the distance is not far and scientists have stated that two black holes are just in our cosmic backyard. The wobbles, which were created in their companion stars’ movement, picked the two black holes. ALSO READ | Scientists discover ultramassive black hole that can fit 30 billion suns The presence of wobble meant that the stars were not alone and proved that they were orbiting a huge object, which is ten times bigger than our Sun. 1/ 🕳️🕳️ @ESAGaia has discovered the two closest black holes to Earth ever found! This discovery alludes to a new family of #blackholes which is invisible, relatively ‘close-by’ and has stellar companions in large orbits around them ✨https://t.co/6cIfUGMmfU#GaiaMission pic.twitter.com/y2qlJpa67R — ESA Science (@esascience) March 30, 2023 × Scientists claimed that the space objects were totally invisible, and black and can only be detected because of the gravitational effects. “What sets this new group of black holes apart from the ones we already knew about is their wide separation from their companion stars. These black holes likely have a completely different formation history than X-ray binaries," said Kareem El-Badry, who discovered the new black holes, in a statement. The discovery of black holes was part of the analysis carried out on data which was beamed back by the Gaia mission, which was measuring the motions and positions of billions of stars present in our universe. WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life The changing position of stars against the sky can provide essential clues about objects which influences these stars gravitationally. Although Gaia data revealed massive objects’ presence around the stars, Chandra X-ray Observatory and the South African MeerKAT radio telescope’s observations failed to detect any emission, which is a characteristic found in black holes. "There are a lot of particles coming off the companion star in the form of stellar wind. But because we didn't see any radio light, that tells us the black hole isn't a great eater and not many particles are crossing its event horizon. We don’t know why that is, but we want to find out,” said Yvette Cendes, who assisted in the discovery of the second black hole. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists locate two black holes closest to Earth in cosmic backyard

"Traffic jams" caused by supermassive black holes in space might be causing collisions in other black holes. According to a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the environment around a supermassive black hole is ideal for facilitating the growth of other black holes.

"Traffic jams" caused by supermassive black holes in space might be causing collisions in other black holes. According to a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the environment around a supermassive black hole is ideal for facilitating the growth of other black holes. Supermassive black holes are giant voids in the heart of all large galaxies. They swirl around disks of matter, stars and their systems, and interestingly, other black holes, including the smaller, stellar mass ones. The swirly behaviour around supermassive black holes can lead to a cosmic "traffic jam," which is integral in slowing down the orbits of stellar-mass black holes. When no longer moving from place to place, these black holes can collide, merging into one enormous black hole. Moreover, the process repeats due to the immense gravitational influence of the supermassive black holes, resulting in even more black-hole collisions that create larger and larger stellar-mass black holes over time. ALSO READ | James Webb captures stunning Horsehead Nebula as ‘you’ve never seen it before...’ Furthermore, an accretion disk, made of gas and dust, surrounds the supermassive black hole and gradually feeds it. These accretion disks glow brightly, creating an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) caused by the powerful tidal force generated by the supermassive black hole. Scientists from Monash University conducted the research where they looked at the dynamics found in accretion disks and their embedded black holes. According to the study, when stellar-mass black holes interact with the gas in the accretion disk, they can migrate through the disk, resulting in several such black holes accumulating in regions called "migration traps." Here, the probability of two stellar-mass black holes colliding and merging due to traffic jams is higher than anywhere else in the surrounding galaxy. The study's lead author, Evgeni Grishin, said, "We looked at how many and where we'd have these busy intersections. Thermal effects play a crucial role in this process, influencing the location and stability of migration traps. One implication is that we don't see migration traps occurring in active galaxies with large luminosity." The findings give an understanding of how mergers between stellar-mass black holes proceed. They could also help advance gravitational wave astronomy in the future as these mergers create a burst of tiny ripples in spacetime known as gravitational waves. "We're thrilled with the results, and we are one step closer to discovering where and how black holes merge in galactic nuclei. The future of gravitational wave astronomy and active galactic nuclei research is exceptionally promising," Grishin stated. "Despite these significant findings, much about the physics of black holes and their surrounding environments remains unknown," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Cosmic vicious cycle: Black holes are crashing into each other due to 'traffic jams' in space

Scientists have discovered what they call “Milky Way's most massive" black hole yet. To put its size into perspective, it’s at least 33 times bigger than the Sun and located 2,000 light years away from us. Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory's Gaia mission spotted the gigantic black hole when they noticed a star wobbling as it orbited the area.

The black hole has been named Gaia BH3. It’s the second-closest black hole to Earth and sits in the Aquila constellation. Gaia is a Latin word which means “the eagle”.

"No one was expecting to find a high-mass black hole lurking nearby, undetected so far," said Pasquale Panuzzo, an astronomer from the National Centre for Scientific Research at the Observatoire de Paris. "This is the kind of discovery you make once in your research life," the astronomer added.

<h2>How are black holes formed?</h2>

Black holes are formed when stars reach the end of their lives. Most of these stars inflate, lose mass and cool down to become “white dwarfs” but others lose less mass that don’t contain heavy elements. These stars are called ‘metal-poor stars’ and instead of becoming white dwarfs, they collapse in on themselves and form a black hole.

Watch:&nbsp;New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller

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It indicates that the star that collapsed to form a Gaia BH3 black hole must have been a metal-poor star. More clues can be derived from the "wobbly" star orbiting it as stars in pairs tend to be similar.

Interestingly, the wobbly star is also a metal-poor star.

<h2>50 stellar black holes in the Milky Way</h2>

Scientists at NASA believe there are more than 50 stellar black holes in the Milky Way galaxy.

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Earlier in January, astronomers said they had discovered the oldest black hole ever, dating back to the early universe more than 13 billion years ago.

The black hole is located in an ancient galaxy called GN-z11, located 13.4 billion light years away, and was spotted using the James Webb Space Telescope.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have discovered what they call “Milky Way's most massive" black hole yet. To put its size into perspective, it’s at least 33 times bigger than the Sun and located 2,000 light years away from us.

Scientists have discovered what they call “Milky Way's most massive" black hole yet. To put its size into perspective, it’s at least 33 times bigger than the Sun and located 2,000 light years away from us. Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory's Gaia mission spotted the gigantic black hole when they noticed a star wobbling as it orbited the area. The black hole has been named Gaia BH3. It’s the second-closest black hole to Earth and sits in the Aquila constellation. Gaia is a Latin word which means “the eagle”. "No one was expecting to find a high-mass black hole lurking nearby, undetected so far," said Pasquale Panuzzo, an astronomer from the National Centre for Scientific Research at the Observatoire de Paris. "This is the kind of discovery you make once in your research life," the astronomer added. How are black holes formed? Black holes are formed when stars reach the end of their lives. Most of these stars inflate, lose mass and cool down to become “white dwarfs” but others lose less mass that don’t contain heavy elements. These stars are called ‘metal-poor stars’ and instead of becoming white dwarfs, they collapse in on themselves and form a black hole. Watch: New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller × It indicates that the star that collapsed to form a Gaia BH3 black hole must have been a metal-poor star. More clues can be derived from the "wobbly" star orbiting it as stars in pairs tend to be similar. Interestingly, the wobbly star is also a metal-poor star. 50 stellar black holes in the Milky Way Scientists at NASA believe there are more than 50 stellar black holes in the Milky Way galaxy. Also read: Brace up for science revision children. Scientists just identified how we taste it bitter Earlier in January, astronomers said they had discovered the oldest black hole ever, dating back to the early universe more than 13 billion years ago. The black hole is located in an ancient galaxy called GN-z11, located 13.4 billion light years away, and was spotted using the James Webb Space Telescope. (With inputs from agencies)

Milky Way’s ‘most massive’ stellar black hole , 33 times bigger than Sun, found lurking near Earth

A collision between a neutron star and a mysterious lightweight object on April 5 left astronomers stunned. The mysterious object detected during the collision is much larger than the largest known star but smaller than the smallest known black hole. This new transient object opened doors to many curious questions and the possibility of more such objects in the universe.

The signal of the collision was detected some 650 million light-years away from the Earth, far away into deep space. Astronomers are of the view that this object is a surprisingly lightweight black hole, instead of a neutron star.

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On May 29, the collision was detected by a group of connected antennas in Japan, Italy and the US. The network of antennas flagged off that the collision is associated with the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration.

Astronomers called the collision a rare event. Evan Goetz, a LIGO researcher at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, called this event “very exciting for the community to study as the first one of its type” while talking to Space.com.

<h2>Astronomers might have discovered lightest and smallest black hole</h2>

The discovery of the smallest black hole "hints at this 'mass gap' being less empty than astronomers previously thought," Michael Zevin, an astrophysicist at the Adler Planetarium, said in a statement.&nbsp;

The black hole candidate is about 2.5 to 4.5 times heavier than the Sun and is heavier than the established limit of 2.5 suns for a neutron star. However, it is lighter than the lightest known black hole, which weighs about five solar masses. Hence, this new object is found between the “mass gaps”, as called by astronomers.

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The “mass gap” is a mysterious region that separates the heaviest neutron stars from the lightest black holes. Black holes, small or big, are created after the violent deaths of immensely massive stars. However, a few models showing how stars evolve, predict black holes with masses within the "mass gap" range cannot directly form from such stellar deaths. &nbsp;

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"It does appear that it could be possible now with these observations," Goetz said. Perhaps, he says, astronomers need to tweak the models or maybe "we really do have a more complicated evolution of a heavy neutron star that evolved into a black hole."

"It's hard to know just from this one example," he said.

The discovery was presented at the American Physical Society meeting on Friday (April 5) and is awaiting peer review.

(With inputs from agencies)

A collision between a neutron star and a mysterious lightweight object on April 5 left astronomers stunned. The mysterious object detected during the collision is much larger than the largest known star but smaller than the smallest known black hole.

A collision between a neutron star and a mysterious lightweight object on April 5 left astronomers stunned. The mysterious object detected during the collision is much larger than the largest known star but smaller than the smallest known black hole. This new transient object opened doors to many curious questions and the possibility of more such objects in the universe. The signal of the collision was detected some 650 million light-years away from the Earth, far away into deep space. Astronomers are of the view that this object is a surprisingly lightweight black hole, instead of a neutron star. Also Read | Dancing in trance: Ancient humans possibly danced under hallucinogenic influence, archaeologists suggest On May 29, the collision was detected by a group of connected antennas in Japan, Italy and the US. The network of antennas flagged off that the collision is associated with the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration. Astronomers called the collision a rare event. Evan Goetz, a LIGO researcher at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, called this event “very exciting for the community to study as the first one of its type” while talking to Space.com. Astronomers might have discovered lightest and smallest black hole The discovery of the smallest black hole "hints at this 'mass gap' being less empty than astronomers previously thought," Michael Zevin, an astrophysicist at the Adler Planetarium, said in a statement. The black hole candidate is about 2.5 to 4.5 times heavier than the Sun and is heavier than the established limit of 2.5 suns for a neutron star. However, it is lighter than the lightest known black hole, which weighs about five solar masses. Hence, this new object is found between the “mass gaps”, as called by astronomers. Also Read | Shocking revelation! No Gold and Platinum formed by brightest supernova The “mass gap” is a mysterious region that separates the heaviest neutron stars from the lightest black holes. Black holes, small or big, are created after the violent deaths of immensely massive stars. However, a few models showing how stars evolve, predict black holes with masses within the "mass gap" range cannot directly form from such stellar deaths. Also Read | Study unearths practice of women sacrifices across Europe during Stone Age "It does appear that it could be possible now with these observations," Goetz said. Perhaps, he says, astronomers need to tweak the models or maybe "we really do have a more complicated evolution of a heavy neutron star that evolved into a black hole." "It's hard to know just from this one example," he said. The discovery was presented at the American Physical Society meeting on Friday (April 5) and is awaiting peer review. (With inputs from agencies)

Gravitational waves detect collision of neutron star with a mysterious object in 'mass gap'

Some stars&nbsp;which have existed from ancient ages and are orbiting the central supermassive black hole of the Milk Way, appear youthful despite their age.

However, the secret behind their young look is dark and gory. These zombie-like stars have gobbled up their own neighbours. This was revealed in a study carried out by Northwestern University.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/surprising-images-of-black-hole-at-center-of-milky-way-alter-our-understanding-of-black-holes-705103">Surprising images of black hole at centre of Milky Way alter our understanding of black holes</a>

<h2>Survivors of stellar cannibalism losing mass</h2>

The astrophysicists used a new model for tracing the violent journeys of 1,000 simulated stars which have been orbiting a central supermassive black hole, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), in our galaxy.

The region, which is so densely packed with stars, commonly faces brutal stellar collisions.

"The closest star to our sun is about four light-years away. Within that same distance near the supermassive black hole, there are more than a million stars. It's an incredibly crowded neighbourhood. On top of that, the supermassive black hole has a really strong gravitational pull. As they orbit the black hole, stars can move at thousands of kilometres per second," said Northwestern's Sanaea C. Rose, who headed the research.

Watch:&nbsp;Brightest and hungriest black hole ever detected; It eats one sun a a day

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The new study, which simulated the effects of these intense collisions, found that collision survivors are likely losing mass and turning into low-mass stars.&nbsp;There are also possibilities that they are merging with other stars and becoming massive as well as rejuvenated in appearance.

"The region around the central black hole is dense with stars moving at extremely high speeds," said Rose added.

"It's a bit like running through an incredibly crowded subway station in New York City during rush hour. If you aren't colliding with other people, then you are passing very closely by them. For stars, these near collisions still cause them to interact gravitationally. We wanted to explore what these collisions and interactions mean for the stellar population and characterize their outcomes," she said.

This research was presented by Rose at the American Physical Society's (APS) April meeting in Sacramento, California.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Some stars which have existed from ancient ages and are orbiting the central supermassive black hole of the Milk Way, appear youthful despite their age. However, the secret behind their young look is dark and gory.

Some stars which have existed from ancient ages and are orbiting the central supermassive black hole of the Milk Way, appear youthful despite their age. However, the secret behind their young look is dark and gory. These zombie-like stars have gobbled up their own neighbours. This was revealed in a study carried out by Northwestern University. Also Read: Surprising images of black hole at centre of Milky Way alter our understanding of black holes Survivors of stellar cannibalism losing mass The astrophysicists used a new model for tracing the violent journeys of 1,000 simulated stars which have been orbiting a central supermassive black hole, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), in our galaxy. The region, which is so densely packed with stars, commonly faces brutal stellar collisions. "The closest star to our sun is about four light-years away. Within that same distance near the supermassive black hole, there are more than a million stars. It's an incredibly crowded neighbourhood. On top of that, the supermassive black hole has a really strong gravitational pull. As they orbit the black hole, stars can move at thousands of kilometres per second," said Northwestern's Sanaea C. Rose, who headed the research. Watch: Brightest and hungriest black hole ever detected; It eats one sun a a day The new study, which simulated the effects of these intense collisions, found that collision survivors are likely losing mass and turning into low-mass stars. There are also possibilities that they are merging with other stars and becoming massive as well as rejuvenated in appearance. "The region around the central black hole is dense with stars moving at extremely high speeds," said Rose added. "It's a bit like running through an incredibly crowded subway station in New York City during rush hour. If you aren't colliding with other people, then you are passing very closely by them. For stars, these near collisions still cause them to interact gravitationally. We wanted to explore what these collisions and interactions mean for the stellar population and characterize their outcomes," she said. This research was presented by Rose at the American Physical Society's (APS) April meeting in Sacramento, California. (With inputs from agencies)

The gruesome reason zombie-like stars at centre of Milky Way look youthful for their age

Two years after we became aware of the existence of Sagittarius A*, a giant black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, the Event Horizon Telescope captured it in polarised light for the first time and it gave some fascinating insights.

The image shows neatly ordered swirling polarisation lines around the black hole named Sagittarius A*.

These lines are directly related to the magnetic field around the black hole. This new research is published in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters in collaboration with Event Horizon Telescope (EHT).

<h2>What does the Sagittarius A* image reveal?</h2>

The polarisation lines are seen when magnets align in a particular direction to create a stronger and more organised magnetic field around the object, in this case, Sagittarius A*.

The magnetic fields are generated by charged particles around the black hole.

“This spiral pattern that we see swirling around the black hole indicates that the magnetic fields must also be a spiral pattern whirling around – and that they're very strong and very ordered,” Dr Sara Issaoun, co-lead of the project was quoted as saying by the&nbsp;BBC.

<h2>Why is this discovery important?</h2>

The speculation of a magnetic field surrounding a black hole is common among scientists.

Then what makes this research so important? The team of researchers noticed that the magnetic fields around Sgr A* are comparable to another much bigger black hole, M87*.

The remarkable similarity between the magnetic fields of black holes Sgr A* and 1000 times larger M87* leads to the speculation that strong magnetic fields could be a fundamental property of all massive black holes regardless of differences in their size.

Dr Sara Issaoun told BBC, “Along with Sgr A* having a strikingly similar polarisation structure to that seen in the much larger and more powerful M87* black hole, we’ve learned that strong and ordered magnetic fields are critical to how black holes interact with the gas and matter around them."

Sagittarius A* weighs as much as four million suns and is 27,000 light-years away from Earth. The first picture of the black hole Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A* was released back in 2022.&nbsp;

<h2>How did Event Horizon Telescope capture Sgr A*?</h2>

Event Horizon Telescope used a network of eight telescopes from all around the world since a single telescope wouldn’t have been powerful enough to observe Sgr A*. Data from these eight telescopes, along with timestamps were combined using supercomputers to produce the final images.

Two years after we became aware of the existence of Sagittarius A*, a giant black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, the Event Horizon Telescope captured it in polarised light for the first time and it gave some fascinating insights.

Two years after we became aware of the existence of Sagittarius A*, a giant black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, the Event Horizon Telescope captured it in polarised light for the first time and it gave some fascinating insights. The image shows neatly ordered swirling polarisation lines around the black hole named Sagittarius A*. These lines are directly related to the magnetic field around the black hole. This new research is published in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters in collaboration with Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). What does the Sagittarius A* image reveal? The polarisation lines are seen when magnets align in a particular direction to create a stronger and more organised magnetic field around the object, in this case, Sagittarius A*. The magnetic fields are generated by charged particles around the black hole. “This spiral pattern that we see swirling around the black hole indicates that the magnetic fields must also be a spiral pattern whirling around – and that they're very strong and very ordered,” Dr Sara Issaoun, co-lead of the project was quoted as saying by the BBC. Why is this discovery important? The speculation of a magnetic field surrounding a black hole is common among scientists. Then what makes this research so important? The team of researchers noticed that the magnetic fields around Sgr A* are comparable to another much bigger black hole, M87*. The remarkable similarity between the magnetic fields of black holes Sgr A* and 1000 times larger M87* leads to the speculation that strong magnetic fields could be a fundamental property of all massive black holes regardless of differences in their size. Dr Sara Issaoun told BBC, “Along with Sgr A* having a strikingly similar polarisation structure to that seen in the much larger and more powerful M87* black hole, we’ve learned that strong and ordered magnetic fields are critical to how black holes interact with the gas and matter around them." Sagittarius A* weighs as much as four million suns and is 27,000 light-years away from Earth. The first picture of the black hole Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A* was released back in 2022. How did Event Horizon Telescope capture Sgr A*? Event Horizon Telescope used a network of eight telescopes from all around the world since a single telescope wouldn’t have been powerful enough to observe Sgr A*. Data from these eight telescopes, along with timestamps were combined using supercomputers to produce the final images.

Surprising images of black hole at centre of Milky Way alter our understanding of black holes

The detection of twisted magnetic field surounding the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The discovery offers some insights into the behaviour of the black holes.

Never-seen-before images of Milky Way's Black Hole!

Scientists have unveiled a remarkable map detailing approximately 1.3 million active supermassive black holes in three-dimensional space, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the "largest-ever volume of the universe."

Led by researchers at New York University in the US, this monumental achievement promises to revolutionise our understanding of the cosmos.

At the heart of galaxies, these supermassive black holes wield immense gravitational influence, voraciously consuming nearby gas and material. This cosmic feeding frenzy gives rise to luminous disks known as quasars and dazzling jets of light, observable by telescopes from afar.

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"We were able to make measurements of how matter clusters together in the early universe that are as precise as some of those from major international survey projects," remarked lead author Kate Storey-Fisher from the Department of Physics at New York University. It is "quite remarkable given that we got our data as a 'bonus' from the Milky Way-focused Gaia project,"&nbsp;Storey-Fisher added.&nbsp;

European Space Agency's Gaia space telescope, originally designed to map stars within the Milky Way, inadvertently captured data on objects beyond our galaxy's bounds, including quasars and distant galaxies.

Leveraging this unexpected treasure trove, scientists meticulously crafted a comprehensive catalogue of quasars, shedding light on the mysterious distribution of dark matter throughout the cosmos.

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By comparing the quasar map with ancient light from the universe, scientists can discern the extent of matter's clustering, unveiling pivotal insights into cosmic evolution.

Using data from Gaia's third release, supplemented by NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the team meticulously curated a precise map, expunging contaminants and pinpointing quasar distances with unprecedented accuracy.

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Moreover, the quasar map is proving to be an invaluable resource for astronomers worldwide, catalysing a wave of new discoveries and inquiries. By tracing the evolution of distant quasars and their host galaxies, researchers aim to unravel the cosmic narrative spanning billions of years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have unveiled a remarkable map detailing approximately 1.3 million active supermassive black holes in three-dimensional space, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the "largest-ever volume of the universe.

Scientists have unveiled a remarkable map detailing approximately 1.3 million active supermassive black holes in three-dimensional space, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the "largest-ever volume of the universe." Led by researchers at New York University in the US, this monumental achievement promises to revolutionise our understanding of the cosmos. At the heart of galaxies, these supermassive black holes wield immense gravitational influence, voraciously consuming nearby gas and material. This cosmic feeding frenzy gives rise to luminous disks known as quasars and dazzling jets of light, observable by telescopes from afar. Also Read | Is Vaping better than smoking? Study links e-cigarettes to cancer, changes to DNA as smokers "We were able to make measurements of how matter clusters together in the early universe that are as precise as some of those from major international survey projects," remarked lead author Kate Storey-Fisher from the Department of Physics at New York University. It is "quite remarkable given that we got our data as a 'bonus' from the Milky Way-focused Gaia project," Storey-Fisher added. European Space Agency's Gaia space telescope, originally designed to map stars within the Milky Way, inadvertently captured data on objects beyond our galaxy's bounds, including quasars and distant galaxies. Leveraging this unexpected treasure trove, scientists meticulously crafted a comprehensive catalogue of quasars, shedding light on the mysterious distribution of dark matter throughout the cosmos. Also Read | Is there a role of hypermobility in long Covid, fatigue? Study says this ... By comparing the quasar map with ancient light from the universe, scientists can discern the extent of matter's clustering, unveiling pivotal insights into cosmic evolution. Using data from Gaia's third release, supplemented by NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the team meticulously curated a precise map, expunging contaminants and pinpointing quasar distances with unprecedented accuracy. Watch | Scientists claim they successfully eliminated HIV from infected cells × Moreover, the quasar map is proving to be an invaluable resource for astronomers worldwide, catalysing a wave of new discoveries and inquiries. By tracing the evolution of distant quasars and their host galaxies, researchers aim to unravel the cosmic narrative spanning billions of years. (With inputs from agencies)

Breakthrough black hole map reveals vast expanse of universe

In a rare visual, astronomers have noticed a supermassive black hole devouring a star at very close proximity to Earth.&nbsp;

The gory death of the star took place after a black hole, which has a mass equal to nearly one million suns, devoured it.&nbsp;

The event took place in the active star-birthing galaxy NGC 3799 which is constellation of Leo and is 160 million light-years away from Earth.

The scientists, who were from the&nbsp;Hawaii&nbsp;Institute for Astronomy, spotted the stellar murder which is called a tidal disruption event (TDE).&nbsp;

It was spotted when the barred spiral galaxy's sudden brightening and rapid fading occurred within it. The All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) system saw the death of the star on February 22, 2023.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-supermassive-black-holes-weigh-28-billion-times-more-than-sun-scientists-695825">&nbsp;Two supermassive black holes weigh 28 billion times more than sun: Scientists</a>

In a statement, research co-leader Willem Hoogendam said, "While black holes destroying stars have been seen before, this is the first one we have seen this close using visible light."

"This could give us a much better understanding of how&nbsp;supermassive black holes grow and collect material around them," he added.

<h2>Discovery of TDE close to Earth a rare phenomenon</h2>

The tidal disruption events (TDEx) take place when stars come very close to supermassive black holes which are present in the hearts of all large galaxies and are as heavy as millions or billions of suns.&nbsp;

The immense gravitational forces of these black holes create huge tidal forces which stretch the stars horizontally as well as vertically.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Universe's brightest and hungriest black hole

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The stars then break down into stellar material which are wrapped around by supermassive black holes. This process is called "spaghettification".

The supermassive black hole eventually feeds every destroyed star. The destruction of stars and their devouring generate extremely bright flares which are visible from Earth, with the help of instruments.

Although these events are very common, discovering TDEs in close proximity to the Earth is rare. The scientists will now investigate TDE in NGC 3799, which is designated ASASSN-23bd.

"This discovery suggests that black holes ripping stars apart nearby could be more common than previously thought — we just haven’t witnessed it happening frequently," Hoogendam said.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a rare visual, astronomers have noticed a supermassive black hole devouring a star at very close proximity to Earth. The gory death of the star took place after a black hole, which has a mass equal to nearly one million suns, devoured it.

In a rare visual, astronomers have noticed a supermassive black hole devouring a star at very close proximity to Earth. The gory death of the star took place after a black hole, which has a mass equal to nearly one million suns, devoured it. The event took place in the active star-birthing galaxy NGC 3799 which is constellation of Leo and is 160 million light-years away from Earth. The scientists, who were from the Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, spotted the stellar murder which is called a tidal disruption event (TDE). It was spotted when the barred spiral galaxy's sudden brightening and rapid fading occurred within it. The All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) system saw the death of the star on February 22, 2023. Also Read: Two supermassive black holes weigh 28 billion times more than sun: Scientists In a statement, research co-leader Willem Hoogendam said, "While black holes destroying stars have been seen before, this is the first one we have seen this close using visible light." "This could give us a much better understanding of how supermassive black holes grow and collect material around them," he added. Discovery of TDE close to Earth a rare phenomenon The tidal disruption events (TDEx) take place when stars come very close to supermassive black holes which are present in the hearts of all large galaxies and are as heavy as millions or billions of suns. The immense gravitational forces of these black holes create huge tidal forces which stretch the stars horizontally as well as vertically. Watch: Universe's brightest and hungriest black hole The stars then break down into stellar material which are wrapped around by supermassive black holes. This process is called "spaghettification". The supermassive black hole eventually feeds every destroyed star. The destruction of stars and their devouring generate extremely bright flares which are visible from Earth, with the help of instruments. Although these events are very common, discovering TDEs in close proximity to the Earth is rare. The scientists will now investigate TDE in NGC 3799, which is designated ASASSN-23bd. "This discovery suggests that black holes ripping stars apart nearby could be more common than previously thought — we just haven’t witnessed it happening frequently," Hoogendam said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists spot black hole devouring star at close proximity to Earth

An "extremely red" supermassive black hole, growing in the shadowy part of the early universe has been unearthed by scientists using the&nbsp;James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the UNCOVER programme.

The fiery red colour of the quasar-like object is due to the expansion of the universe. As the universe pushes across in all directions, light travelling towards us gets "redshifted" and that light, in this case,&nbsp;indicates a cloak of thick gas and dust shrouding the black hole.

Through meticulous analysis, scientists concluded that the red light&nbsp;originated when the universe was still in its infancy, a mere 700 million years old.&nbsp;

Led by Lukas Furtak and Adi Zitrin of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the scientists also determined the mass of the supermassive black hole to be around 40 million times the mass of our Sun which makes it&nbsp;unexpectedly massive in comparison to the galaxy in which it resides.&nbsp;

"We were very excited when JWST started sending its first data. We were scanning the data that arrived for the UNCOVER programme, and three very compact yet red-blooming objects prominently stood out and caught our eyes," said Furtak about when they first stumbled upon the black hole.&nbsp;

The vast amount of radiation around the black hole caused it to take in a small-point-like appearance in JSWT data.&nbsp;

"Analysis of the object's colours indicated that it was not a typical star-forming galaxy. This further supported the supermassive blackhole hypothesis," said&nbsp;Rachel Bezanson, the co-lead of the UNCOVER programme.&nbsp;

"Together with its compact size, it became evident this was likely a supermassive black hole, although it was still different from other quasars found at those early times."

WATCH |&nbsp;How our sun will swallow the earth

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<h2>What are quasars?</h2>

Quasars are supermassive black holes, often situated at the heart of a galaxy, millions to billions of times more massive than our Sun. Quasars are super hungry as they devour any matter in the vicinity by using their immense gravitational pull.&nbsp;

They also emit tremendous amounts of radiation, including jets of high-energy particles,&nbsp;while a glowing disk of matter spins around them.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-discover-supermassive-black-hole-at-heart-of-ancient-galaxy-597137">Also read |&nbsp;Astronomers discover supermassive black hole at the heart of ancient galaxy</a>

Last year, scientists published a research after monitoring over 190 quasars for two decades which stated that time passed only about a fifth as quickly as it does today due to dilation in the early universe.

The scientists compared the brightness of the 190 quasars, dating to about 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang event to that of&nbsp;quasars existing today. In doing so, they found that certain fluctuations&nbsp;that occur in a particular amount of time today did so five times more slowly in the most ancient quasars.

(With inputs from agencies)

An "extremely red" supermassive black hole, growing in the shadowy part of the early universe has been unearthed by scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the UNCOVER programme.

An "extremely red" supermassive black hole, growing in the shadowy part of the early universe has been unearthed by scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the UNCOVER programme. The fiery red colour of the quasar-like object is due to the expansion of the universe. As the universe pushes across in all directions, light travelling towards us gets "redshifted" and that light, in this case, indicates a cloak of thick gas and dust shrouding the black hole. Through meticulous analysis, scientists concluded that the red light originated when the universe was still in its infancy, a mere 700 million years old. Led by Lukas Furtak and Adi Zitrin of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the scientists also determined the mass of the supermassive black hole to be around 40 million times the mass of our Sun which makes it unexpectedly massive in comparison to the galaxy in which it resides. "We were very excited when JWST started sending its first data. We were scanning the data that arrived for the UNCOVER programme, and three very compact yet red-blooming objects prominently stood out and caught our eyes," said Furtak about when they first stumbled upon the black hole. The vast amount of radiation around the black hole caused it to take in a small-point-like appearance in JSWT data. "Analysis of the object's colours indicated that it was not a typical star-forming galaxy. This further supported the supermassive blackhole hypothesis," said Rachel Bezanson, the co-lead of the UNCOVER programme. "Together with its compact size, it became evident this was likely a supermassive black hole, although it was still different from other quasars found at those early times." WATCH | How our sun will swallow the earth What are quasars? Quasars are supermassive black holes, often situated at the heart of a galaxy, millions to billions of times more massive than our Sun. Quasars are super hungry as they devour any matter in the vicinity by using their immense gravitational pull. They also emit tremendous amounts of radiation, including jets of high-energy particles, while a glowing disk of matter spins around them. Also read | Astronomers discover supermassive black hole at the heart of ancient galaxy Last year, scientists published a research after monitoring over 190 quasars for two decades which stated that time passed only about a fifth as quickly as it does today due to dilation in the early universe. The scientists compared the brightness of the 190 quasars, dating to about 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang event to that of quasars existing today. In doing so, they found that certain fluctuations that occur in a particular amount of time today did so five times more slowly in the most ancient quasars. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find oldest fiery-red supermassive black hole from universe’s infancy

The most luminous object ever detected has been spied in the distant Universe. It's a Quasar - the bright core of a galaxy that is powered by a gargantuan black hole some 17 billion times the mass of our Sun. Watch in for more details!

Brightest and hungriest black hole ever detected; It eats one sun a a day

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