New Gravitational Wave Study Reveals the Unexpected Dance Between Black Holes and Neutron Stars
The final dance of a black hole and a neutron star before their ultimate merger has been revealed, according to new research.
black hole
“This Was Not an Ordinary Gamma-Ray Burst”: Astronomers Have Witnessed An Extreme Cosmic Explosion Unlike Anything Ever Seen
China’s Einstein Probe has detected an event suspected to be the first recorded instance of a black hole devouring a white dwarf.
Astronomers Were Baffled by the Disappearance of a Massive Star in a Nearby Galaxy—Now They Have Solved This Cosmic Cold Case
NASA’s NEOWISE has allowed astronomers to get the best and most complete view of a star collapsing into a black hole ever recorded.
“It’s Like Watching a Cosmic Volcano Erupt Again”: Black Hole Roars Back to Life With Powerful Plasma Jet
A dramatic scarlet image of a supermassive black hole erupting like a cosmic volcano has been captured by researchers.
James Webb Space Telescope Solves a Cosmic Mystery by Revealing the True Identity of Mysterious “Little Red Dots” in Deep Space
One of the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) earliest mysteries was that of the little red dots, which researchers have finally resolved.
A Real-Life ‘Star Wars’ Discovery, Einstein Vindicated Again, and Solving a Deadly 4000-Year-Old Mystery
This week, astronomers have spotted a 'Tatooine' world, Einstein has been proven right (again), and a Bronze Age mystery comes into focus.
“This is a Real Gift for Physicists”: A Black Hole Just Twisted Spacetime—and Proved Einstein Right Again
An elusive effect first envisioned by Einstein has been observed by scientists, once again vindicating the famed physicist's Theory of General Relativity.
Astronomers Uncover the Dramatic Past of a Red Giant Star Orbiting a Hidden Black Hole
Astronomers are revealing the dramatic past of a distant red giant star by analyzing the faint rhythmic pulses hidden in its light.
Physicists Discover “Einstein-Rosen Caterpillars” Might Be Hiding Inside Black Holes
Physicists uncover “Einstein-Rosen Caterpillars,” suggesting that black holes may be tangled with quantum wormholes.
This Black Hole Devoured a Star from Within, Causing a Record-Breaking Cosmic Explosion
Astronomers have discovered the longest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, revealing that a black hole literally consumed a star from the inside out over the course of seven hours.
Scientists Warn the Universe Could End in a ‘Big Crunch’—Here’s When It Might Happen
Physicists predict the universe’s expansion will reverse, ending in a dramatic big crunch about 20 billion years from now.
Hawking Was Right: Unprecedented Black Hole Merger Observation Supports Predictions
A recently discovered black hole merger is proving correct theoretical predictions made by Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
Astronomers Detect Evidence of Matter ‘Evolving’ Into Dark Energy, Challenging Previous Assumptions
A new study based on recent data provides fresh evidence that instead of being steady, dark energy’s impact on the universe is altering over time.
AI Has Spotted a ‘Very Strange’ Stellar Death Unlike Anything Astronomers Have Ever Seen
This week, astronomers have documented the occurrence of an unprecedented stellar death unlike anything seen before.
Scientists Measure ‘Impossible’ Quantum Motion, a Meteorite Smashes Into a Home, and NASA’s Webb Hunts a Missing Planet
This week, scientists say they have achieved the "impossible" by directly measuring zero-point motion in a molecule, and much more.
“It May Sound Really Crazy”: A Paperclip-Sized Probe Could One Day Visit a Black Hole, This Researcher Says
Sending an artificial probe into a black hole may be in the cards within the coming decades, according to a Fudan University researcher
High-Resolution Images Reveal Rare ‘Plasma Ribbon’ in a Distant Black Hole Galaxy
A stunning image reveals the plasma jet at the heart of the OJ 287 galaxy, providing new data on black holes’ impact on their surroundings.
In a Stunning First, Scientists Have Watched a Star Survive a Black Hole Encounter
For the first time, astronomers have confirmed a star’s survival following a tidal disruption event with a supermassive black hole.
Gravitational Waves Unveil Record-Breaking Black Hole Merger, Challenging Existing Models
The most massive gravitationally detected black hole merger to date has been observed by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration.
Mysterious Cosmic Radiation is “a Very Serious Problem” for Astronauts—New Research Could Finally Reveal Its Origins
Cosmic rays' power source has long remained a mystery, yet new research may finally provide the answer to where particle streams originate.
‘Cosmic Joust’ Unfolds as Quasar Pierces Galaxy in Violent Intergalactic Duel, Leaving a Radioactive Scar
As one galaxy smashed into the other, the winner pieced its cosmic victim, leaving behind a high level of radiation in a unique observation.
NASA’s Hubble Spots Runaway Black Hole Devouring a Star 600 Million Light-Years From Earth
A traveling black hole stalking the cosmos for stellar prey recently revealed itself by shredding a star in a radioactive burst.
NASA’s IXPE Solves Mystery of X-Ray Emissions from Supermassive Black Hole
A supermassive black hole, blazar BL Lacertae, has finally revealed how these cosmic features generate X-rays thanks to NASA's IXPE.
New Webb Telescope Findings Bring Black Hole Mysteries and the Hidden Side of Star Formation into Focus
New data from the MIRI EGS Galaxy and AGN (MEGA) survey showcases the power of the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared imaging capabilities.
Black Hole Radiation: A Surprising Ally in the Search for Life?
A surprising new study suggests the intense radiation from active galactic nuclei from a black hole might support life instead of destroying it.
Astronomers Spot Supermassive Black Hole in a Distant Galaxy Firing ‘Death Rays’ Across the Cosmos
Astronomers studying a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy similar to our Milky Way may have just witnessed how Earth will end.
Mysterious “Blazar” Directing a Massive Jet of Plasma Toward Earth Has Left Scientists Stumped
Astronomers are stumped by unusual signals coming from a blazar over 900 million light-years away from Earth.
Black Holes May Evolve Into White Holes “Where Time Begins,” Groundbreaking Theory Suggests
A radical new theory suggests that black holes can transition into white holes that eject matter, light, and time back into the universe.
Primordial Black Holes: Could Dark Matter Hold a Deadly Secret?
Is it possible that dark matter, which makes up 85% of the cosmic matter budget, is simply a collection of primordial black holes?
James Webb Space Telescope Detects ‘Chaos’ at the Heart of the Galaxy that Defies Astronomer’s Predictions
New observations made by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have revealed a chaotic and perpetual light show occurring at the galaxy’s center, revealing phenomena that defy current models.
High-Energy Detection from Deep in the Ocean Marks “A New Chapter In Neutrino Astronomy”
The most powerful neutrino on record, with help from a deep-sea sensor, has provided the first evidence for high-energy neutrinos.
Cosmic Mystery Ensues as Supermassive Black Hole Emits Odd X-ray Pulses Unlike Anything Previously Seen
A distant supermassive black hole, the mysterious 1ES 1927+654, emits X-ray pulses unlike anything previously recorded, which MIT astronomers hypothesize results from a cosmic balancing act.
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Monstrous Black Hole Lounging After a Cosmic Feast
Even a monstrous black hole needs a break after a cosmic feast, according to new findings by University of Cambridge astronomers.
“Unidentified Object” Involved in Cosmic Collision that Left a Mark, NASA Space Observatory Reveals
Astronomers using the Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected an “unusual mark” left by collision between and unidentified object and a powerful cosmic jet.
This Record-Breaking Black Hole Consumes Matter 40x Faster Than Expected. Is it Defying Physics?
An ancient black hole near the galactic center is consuming matter at over 40 times the theoretical limit, raising questions over whether this object and its voracious appetite are defying the known laws of physics.
MIT and Cal Tech Physicists Spot Something They’ve Never Seen Before: A ‘Black Hole Triple’
Physicists from MIT and Cal Tech say they have discovered evidence of a black hole triple, something they have never seen before.
Mysterious ‘Dark Companion’ Detected Near Giant Star Reveals Elusive “Mass Gap” Phenomenon
One of the most significant black hole discoveries in years points to the elusive "mass gap" phenomenon, defying our current understanding of stellar evolution.
Twinkle Twinkle Artificial Star
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
In this week’s episode of the DWR, Stephanie and Kenna discuss NASA's plan to build an artificial star for astronomical measurements. They also explore a lost Greek temple mentioned in ancient graffiti, and a new black hole discovery using magnetic winds to feed.
Newly Discovered “Magnetic Winds” Are Feeding Supermassive Black Holes, Making Them Grow
Astronomers have discovered powerful magnetic winds fueling a distant supermassive black hole to grow larger.
Astronomers Say They Just Witnessed a Massive Black Hole Appear Out of Nowhere
An international team of astronomers studying a distant galaxy say they just witnessed a black hole appear out of nowhere.
James Webb Space Telescope Discovery Reveals Earliest Black Hole Merger Ever Witnessed
Astronomers report the discovery of the most distant black hole merger ever observed, with help from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Journey to Earth’s Nearest Black Hole
Recently, the Gaia collaboration discovered the most massive black hole that originated from the collapse of a star in the Milky Way galaxy. What would it be like to visit it?
The Milky Way’s Largest Black Hole is “Lurking” Surprisingly Close to Earth
The largest Black Hole ever discovered in the Milky Way, with a mass of 33 solar masses, is "lurking" surprisingly close to Earth.
NASA Launches BurstCube on New Mission to Study Mysterious Short Gamma Ray Bursts
NASA has just sent BurstCube on the first leg of its scientific mission to study the most powerful explosions in the known universe.
13-Billion-Year-Old Black Hole is the Oldest Ever Observed, and It Has a Monstrous Appetite
Astronomers have detected the oldest black hole ever observed, dating back to just 400 million years after the Big Bang.
Odd Structures Detected Near the Heart of the Milky Way Left This Team of Astrophysicists “Stunned”
Researchers have detected odd filament structures that may provide new insights into a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
Density: What Matters in the Universe
If we ever use these dark components to fuel engines of interstellar spacecraft, we will need to know their local densities. Avi Loeb weighs in.
“Black Hole” Created Using Sound Waves Could Help Enable the Development of a Physical Warp Drive
Researchers from the international think tank Applied Physics say they have created an artificial black hole in the lab that will help bring about the development of a working warp drive spaceship.
New Discovery Deepens Our Understanding of Extreme Phenomena Involving Neutron Star Collisions
A new discovery that could potentially hasten our knowledge about physics in some of the universe’s most extreme areas has been revealed from data collected by astronomers over the last several decades.
Black Hole Simulated in the Lab Suddenly Starts Glowing, Potentially Pointing to a Unified Theory of Gravity
A team of European physicists simulated a "glowing" black hole in the lab, which they say might help confirm one famous physicist's theory.