Black hole

Astronomers have observed a bright flash of light from space, which appears to have come from a collision between two black holes. And that’s surprising, considering that black holes are famously dark objects.

In an experiment, scientists at the University of Glasgow have confirmed a half-century-old theory previously thought impossible to test, which claims a super-advanced alien civilization could use a black hole as an energy source.

The LIGO-Virgo collaboration has reported a very strange gravitational wave signal. This signal appears to have come from a black hole swallowing some unknown object, with a mass that sits in a range thought to be empty.

Astronomers investigating gamma ray emissions have discovered that certain active galaxies are giving off bursts in regular patterns. This, the team says, could be an indication of galaxies harboring two supermassive black holes in their centers.

New clues have been uncovered in the mystery of fast radio bursts. One of these strange signals has been repeating seemingly at random – but years of observation has now found a pattern hidden in the noise, which could help reveal what causes them.

The universe is full of explosions, and now astronomers have described a brand new class of space signals. Named fast blue optical transients (FBOTs), these events are very bright and throw off incredible amounts of energy in a short amount of time.

The closest black hole to our solar system has been discovered a mere 1,000 light-years from Earth, and orbits with two companion stars that are visible to the naked eye without the aid of a telescope or binoculars.

In the galaxy GSN 069, a star has survived a close encounter with a black hole, ending up in orbit around it. Material pulled off the star turned it from a red giant into a white dwarf, and in about a trillion years it may actually become a planet.

For the first time, scientists have managed to pick up higher harmonics in gravitational waves. After a round of upgrades The LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors have extended their range, revealing new details about the events behind them.

Almost 30 years of observations has revealed that a star in the center of the galaxy orbits the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* in a rosette, or spirograph shape. The find once again confirms a prediction made by Einstein’s General Relativity.

The cosmic beauty of space never ceases to impress. New Atlas rounds up some of the most incredible space photos of 2019, including historic firsts, stunning starscapes, gorgeous galaxies and some new angles on our own solar system.

Astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and at the University Observatory Munich have found the largest black hole using direct mass measurements so far. It has a mass 40 billion times that of the Sun.