Latest news with #blackholes
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
New technique promises clearer, more frequent views of black holes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A powerful new technique is poised to revolutionize how astronomers observe black holes, by producing sharp, multicolored images that could reveal their dynamic evolution in real time. By compensating for Earth's turbulent atmosphere, the technique — called frequency phase transfer (FPT) — enables scientists using the global Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) array to see finer details and fainter features of cosmic objects (like black holes) than ever before. This method also improves the frequency of observations by expanding the EHT's limited observation window, allowing scientists to potentially create time-lapse "movies" of black hole activity. An international team of researchers have put this new technique to the test using three of the 12 telescopes belonging to the EHT array, including the IRAM 30-meter telescope atop Pico Veleta in Spain and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and Submillimeter Array observatories in Hawai'i, according to a statement from the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA). The challenge of observing the cosmos with ground-based telescopes begins with Earth's atmosphere, which distorts radio waves coming from space, according to Sara Issaoun, lead author of the new study and an astronomer with the CfA. These distortions are especially problematic at higher frequencies like the 230 gigahertz (GHz) band — also known as the millimeter band, which the EHT currently uses — where signals are rapidly scrambled by atmospheric turbulence and water vapor. As a result, data can be collected only over short time spans, limiting sensitivity and making it harder to detect faint signals. The FPT technique works by taking advantage of the fact that atmospheric variations affect different frequencies in similar ways, creating a measurable correlation. By observing at a lower frequency, specifically 86 GHz, which experiences slower atmospheric fluctuations, scientists can use that data to correct for the faster, more disruptive variations at 230 GHz. This allows for much longer averaging periods at the higher frequency, significantly boosting signal clarity and sensitivity. This leap in performance could enable the EHT to detect dimmer black holes and finer details than ever before, Issaoun told The EHT is a global network of radio telescopes that uses a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) to digitally combine observations from around the world. Currently, the EHT is only operational for about 10 days each April, when weather conditions align across the widespread telescopes. With FPT, astronomers could greatly extend that window, opening up opportunities to observe black holes more regularly and flexibly, even under less-than-ideal weather conditions. That increased cadence is key to a major goal for the EHT: turning still images of black holes into movies that show how they change over time. Because most black holes evolve slowly, repeated observations are essential to track how matter swirls around them, how jets of material are launched, and how magnetic fields shift. By observing more frequently throughout the year, the EHT would be able to watch black holes change over time — potentially capturing phenomena in real time for the first time, Issaoun noted. To make this possible, telescopes in the EHT array are being upgraded to support simultaneous observations at multiple frequencies. This includes adding receivers for the 86 GHz band. However, not every telescope in the array needs to be outfitted with the new receiver for FPT to be effective. Even partial implementation can enhance the performance of the full network, since all telescopes work in tandem to build a complete picture of a cosmic target. While the required hardware upgrades are relatively minor, each telescope has unique technical constraints, posing challenges to implementation, according to Issaoun. RELATED STORIES — Event Horizon Telescope: A complete guide — Event Horizon Telescope spies jets erupting from nearby supermassive black hole — After snapping a photo of the Milky Way's monster black hole, scientists dream of videos In addition to boosting performance, this technique also adds a new layer of complexity to the images themselves. With multiple frequency bands, researchers can overlay data in different colors to reveal more detailed structures around a black hole. These multiband images will help disentangle features like swirling gas and magnetic fields, painting a more dynamic, multidimensional portrait of black hole environments. Ultimately, the FPT technique could enable the EHT to not only see black holes more clearly but also more often, unlocking a new era of black hole science. The team's initial findings were published on March 26 in The Astronomical Journal. The researchers continually work on developing the full potential of the EHT network and exploring even higher-frequency capabilities — such as 345 GHz — that can further complement multiband observations.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Science
- Irish Times
Embracing infinity: could surreal numbers shape the future of physics?
Imagine Earth were to shrink to the size of a marble. We might be in trouble, but the planet would continue its smooth course around the sun while the moon would maintain its orbit, circling Earth once a month. Isaac Newton proved Earth's gravitational pull would be the same even if all the mass were concentrated in a single point. But the density at that point would be infinite, a condition physicists and mathematicians call a singularity. Such singularities are found in black holes, stars that have collapsed under their own weight. According to general relativity, mass concentrations curve space-time, inducing the force of gravity. With enough matter in a small enough volume, gravity becomes infinitely strong. In 1916, just months after Albert Einstein's general relativity appeared, Karl Schwarzschild discovered a solution of the equations with a singularity. Decades later, this idea led to the theory of black holes, crushed stars with spherical boundaries that trap anything falling inside, including light rays. READ MORE There is now abundant evidence that black holes exist, but do they really represent space-time singularities? Most physicists believe the singularities are mathematical artefacts, and would vanish in a more fundamental theory incorporating quantum effects. Physical equations enable us to predict the future, but singularities imply a lack of predictability; theory just breaks down. It was hoped that quantum effects would eliminate infinities, but current versions of quantum gravity are plagued with singularities. It seems that infinite quantities are inherent and unavoidable. [ Beyond the big bang: Irishman's universal evolution theory challenges accepted cosmology Opens in new window ] German physicist Hermann Weyl opened his essay, Levels of Infinity, with the statement 'mathematics is the science of the infinite'. Infinity is at the core of mathematics. We can gain a first impression of it by placing all the counting numbers, 1, 2, 3 ... in a row stretching towards the right without end. Including the negative integers extends the row to the left. But there are gaps in the row, crying out to be filled. We can insert an infinity of fractions between any two whole numbers but, while the gaps become ever-smaller, their number grows without limit: they never go away. Towards the end of the 19th century, two mathematicians, Richard Dedekind and Georg Cantor, found ways to define quantities known as real numbers, filling all the gaps and producing a mathematical continuum. But this may or may not correspond to the points on a physical line; we have no way of knowing whether we have too few or too many numbers for these points. Cantor proved many startling results. There is not just one infinity, but an entire hierarchy of transfinite quantities, increasing without limit. Around 1970, John Conway discovered an entirely new way of defining numbers, which includes all the familiar numbers, all Cantor's transfinite numbers and a breathlessly vast universe of new numbers, both infinitely large and infinitesimally small. These are the surreal numbers. [ Likely site of new 'gas giant' planet found by research team led by Galway scientists Opens in new window ] So far, the surreal numbers have not been used in physical theories. But this is typical; new mathematical developments often find applications only years or decades after their discovery. Given that fundamental physical theories involve singularities, and infinite quantities are natural elements of the surreal numbers, these exotic numbers may prove valuable in future theories of quantum gravity. Perhaps physicists should embrace infinity rather than trying to banish it from their theories. Peter Lynch is emeritus professor at the School of Mathematics & Statistics, University College Dublin. He blogs at
WIRED
11-06-2025
- Science
- WIRED
Artificial Intelligence Is Unlocking the Secrets of Black Holes
Jun 11, 2025 5:30 AM A neural network trained with simulations of supermassive black holes has found that the one at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*, likely rotates at maximum speed. An artistic impression of a neural network connecting observations of black holes (left) with models of them (right). Photograph: EHT/Janssen et al. There may not yet be telescopes capable of unlocking all the secrets of supermassive black holes, but AI is now on the case. Recently, an international team of astronomers successfully trained a neural network with millions of black hole simulations to allow it to interpret fuzzy data captured from these enigmatic space objects in real life. Of the various methods for investigating a black hole, the Event Horizon Telescope is the most famous. The EHT isn't a single instrument but rather a number of radio telescopes around the world that work together like a single telescope. Thanks to the EHT, it's been possible to obtain images of the supermassive black holes M87 and Sagittarius A*. These are not images in the traditional sense but instead are visualizations of radio waves coming from the black holes. To create these images, supercomputers in different parts of the world processed the radio signals captured by the EHT. But in the process, they discarded much of the information gathered, as it was difficult to interpret. The new neural network, trained by experts at the Morgridge Research Institute in Wisconsin, aims to tap into that sea of data to improve the resolution of the EHT's readings and make new discoveries. According to a press release from the institute, the artificial intelligence successfully analyzed the once-discarded information and established new parameters of Sagittarius A*, which sits at the center of the Milky Way. An alternative image of the black hole's structure was generated, with this revealing some new characteristics of the black hole. 'Researchers now suspect that the black hole at the center of the Milky Way is spinning at almost top speed,' wrote the researchers in a press release. The new image also also indicates that the black hole's rotation axis points to the Earth and gives clues as to the causes and characteristics of the disks of material that circulate around the black hole. Astronomers had previously estimated that Sagittarius A* rotates at a moderate to fast speed. Knowing its actual rotational speed is important, since it allows us to infer how the radiation around the black hole behaves and provides clues about its stability. 'That we are defying the prevailing theory is of course exciting,' lead researcher Michael Janssen, of Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, said in the press release. 'However, I see our AI and machine learning approach primarily as a first step. Next, we will improve and extend the associated models and simulations.' This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Sustainability Times
11-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Einstein Would Lose His Mind': Scientists Uncover Ultimate Power Limit That Could Finally Fuse Relativity with Quantum Mechanics
IN A NUTSHELL 🔬 Researchers propose that dividing spacetime into tiny, discrete units could link general relativity and quantum mechanics . into tiny, discrete units could link and . 💡 New study suggests that gravity , a macroscopic force, might be explained using quantum theory in extreme conditions like black holes. , a macroscopic force, might be explained using in extreme conditions like black holes. 🔗 The concept of Planck power introduces an upper limit to energy release, challenging the notion of infinite energy levels. introduces an upper limit to energy release, challenging the notion of infinite energy levels. 🌌 This research could revolutionize our understanding of the universe, offering new insights and technological advancements. In recent years, the quest to unify the fundamental forces of the universe has taken a significant leap forward. Scientists are inching closer to bridging the gap between two of the most revolutionary theories in physics: general relativity and quantum mechanics. A new study suggests that by dividing spacetime into minuscule units, we might find a way to explain gravity—a macroscopic force—via the principles of quantum theory. This could potentially resolve the long-standing conundrum of how these two seemingly incompatible frameworks can coexist in extreme conditions like those found in black holes or the initial moments of the Big Bang. Energy Always Has an Upper Limit In the realm of physics, the idea that energy can be released at infinitely high levels has long posed challenges, particularly when dealing with quantum gravity. Picture a universe where space and time are not continuous but consist of minute, indivisible building blocks. This concept is akin to pixels on a digital screen or quanta in quantum mechanics, where energy and momentum are not smooth but come in discrete packets. In such a framework, objects would not move continuously but in fixed steps, and time would progress in tiny, discrete increments. These increments are so minute that they escape notice in our everyday lives. According to the principles of general relativity, gravity arises from the curvature of spacetime. If spacetime itself is fragmented, this curvature must also adhere to a quantized, step-like pattern. Moreover, if spacetime is quantized, then the energy release must have an upper limit, much like how no object can exceed the speed of light. This theoretical upper limit, known as Planck power, is unimaginably large—around 10⁵³ watts—but nonetheless finite. Wolfgang Wieland, the study's author, suggests that this concept could allow us to break down gravitational waves into their smallest quanta. 'Einstein Was Wrong': These Groundbreaking Black Hole Models Shatter Century-Old Theories with Unbelievable New Insights A Part of the Ongoing Quest Since the early 20th century, the relationship between general relativity and quantum mechanics has puzzled scientists. Initially thought to be mutually exclusive, recent research has indicated potential pathways to unite these theories, especially when examining phenomena like black holes. Previous studies have employed Einstein's field equations and entropy to explore how macroscopic phenomena such as gravity and spacetime can be described using quantum mechanics. While this current study isn't the first to attempt this unification, it is groundbreaking in its use of Planck power as a basis for exploring the connection. Despite these advancements, the theories remain largely theoretical, confined to mathematical equations and assumptions. Further research is needed to experimentally validate these ideas and potentially revolutionize our understanding of the universe. 'I Watched Time Slow Down in Orbit': This ESA Clock Is Revolutionizing the Science of Space-Time Precision The Implications of Quantized Spacetime If the concept of quantized spacetime proves accurate, it could fundamentally alter our understanding of the cosmos. This idea suggests that spacetime is not a smooth fabric but a collection of discrete units, changing the way we perceive gravity and other fundamental forces. In this model, the universe would operate much like a digital simulation, with everything broken down into its smallest components. Such a shift could have profound implications for fields ranging from cosmology to particle physics. The understanding of quantized spacetime could lead to new insights into how the universe began and how it might evolve. It could also provide a new lens through which to examine the fundamental forces that govern the cosmos. As researchers continue to explore this concept, it's possible that new technologies and methodologies will emerge, enabling us to probe deeper into the universe's mysteries. 'Earth Is Being Poisoned From Below': Microplastics Found in Earthworms Threaten Crops, Food Chains, and Human Survival Future Directions in Unified Physics The pursuit of a unified theory that encapsulates both general relativity and quantum mechanics remains one of the most compelling challenges in modern physics. The idea of quantized spacetime is a critical step in this journey, offering a new framework for understanding the universe. As scientists continue to explore this avenue, they are likely to encounter new challenges and opportunities for discovery. This ongoing research could pave the way for advances in technology and deepen our understanding of the universe's fundamental laws. The implications of such a breakthrough would not only transform physics but also potentially impact other scientific disciplines and even everyday life. As we stand on the brink of this new frontier, one can't help but wonder: what other secrets does the universe hold, waiting to be uncovered? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (25)
Sustainability Times
09-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'We Finally Know Where They Come From': Astrophysicists Uncover Shocking Clues Behind Mysterious Birth of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes
IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 Groundbreaking research from Vanderbilt University explores the origins of intermediate-mass black holes. from Vanderbilt University explores the origins of intermediate-mass black holes. 🔭 The study reveals black holes weighing between 100 and 300 times the mass of the sun, marking the largest collisions recorded. 🚀 Future lunar detectors and the upcoming LISA mission aim to provide unprecedented insights into these cosmic phenomena. into these cosmic phenomena. 🌕 The research underscores a new era of combining scientific inquiry with space and lunar exploration. The vast, mysterious universe continues to intrigue scientists, with black holes remaining one of the most enigmatic phenomena. Recent discoveries have shifted focus toward understanding the origins and characteristics of intermediate-mass black holes, which bridge the gap between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes. These findings have emerged from groundbreaking research led by experts at Vanderbilt University, promising to shed light on cosmic mysteries and offer a new lens through which we can glimpse the universe's earliest epochs. This article delves into the recent studies and the technological advancements driving this captivating field of astrophysics. Vanderbilt Team Sheds Light on Heavy Black Hole Collisions Assistant Professor Karan Jani and his team at Vanderbilt University have made significant strides in understanding intermediate-mass black holes. The study, titled 'Properties of 'Lite' Intermediate-Mass Black Hole Candidates in LIGO-Virgo's Third Observing Run,' was published in Astrophysical Journal Letters. It involved reanalyzing data from LIGO detectors in the U.S. and the Virgo detector in Italy. The researchers discovered that the detected gravitational waves originated from black hole mergers weighing between 100 and 300 times the mass of the sun, marking these collisions as the largest ever recorded. Jani describes black holes as cosmic fossils that hold vital clues to the early universe. The newly identified group of black holes offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the first stars that formed after the Big Bang. However, Earth-based detectors like LIGO only capture a brief moment of these black holes' final collisions. To further explore their formation, Jani's lab is focusing on the upcoming LISA mission—a collaborative space-based project by the European Space Agency and NASA, scheduled for launch in the late 2030s. 'A Tower of Death Rose From the Sea': This 43-Foot Wave in 2020 Shattered Physics and Terrorized the Scientific World Scientists Plan to Study Black Holes Using Future Lunar Detectors The groundbreaking work by Jani's team emphasizes the significance of intermediate-mass black holes as crucial sources for gravitational-wave detectors, both on Earth and in space. Each detection enhances our understanding of these black holes' origins and their existence within an unusual mass range. The researchers are now turning their attention to the moon as a potential observation platform. Future lunar detectors could offer access to lower gravitational-wave frequencies, allowing scientists to identify the environments where these black holes exist—an achievement currently beyond the capabilities of Earth-based detectors. This pioneering approach not only advances black hole research but also heralds a new era of combining scientific inquiry with space and lunar exploration. It represents a rare opportunity for training the next generation of scientists, whose work will be conducted from the moon, potentially transforming our understanding of the cosmos. 'This Tiny Seed Controls Blood Sugar and Shields Your Heart': Doctors Urge Adding It to Your Breakfast Daily Future Prospects for Gravitational Wave Astronomy Two additional studies published in the Astrophysical Journal highlight the transformative potential of the upcoming LISA mission. This mission is expected to track intermediate-mass black holes years before they merge, providing unprecedented insights into their origins, evolution, and fate. Understanding these black holes requires extreme precision, akin to hearing a pin drop during a hurricane. The LISA mission's capabilities will mark a significant leap in gravitational wave astronomy, offering detailed observations that were previously unattainable. As technology advances, scientists are optimistic about uncovering more secrets of the universe. The ability to detect and study gravitational waves with such precision opens new frontiers in understanding fundamental cosmic processes. The insights gained from these studies promise to deepen our comprehension of the universe's formative events and the complex dynamics of black holes. 'They Morph Like Liquid Metal': Scientists Reveal Mini-Robot Swarm That Shape-Shifts Just Like in Sci-Fi Movies The Broader Implications of Black Hole Research Black hole research continues to captivate scientists and the public alike, as it touches upon the fundamental questions of our universe's origin and evolution. The collaborative efforts between institutions like Vanderbilt University and international space agencies underscore the global nature of this quest for knowledge. As we delve deeper into the mysteries of black holes, we not only enhance our scientific understanding but also inspire future generations to pursue answers to the universe's most profound questions. The era of space exploration and scientific discovery is upon us, offering unprecedented opportunities to explore the unknown. How will these advancements in black hole research shape our understanding of the universe, and what new mysteries will emerge as we continue to push the boundaries of our knowledge? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (22)
