Astronomers discover ultramassive black hole using new technique

admin

[Skip to main content](#main) Astronomers discover ultramassive black hole using new technique An ultramassive black hole, understood to be one of the largest ever detected, has been discovered by astronomers using a new technique. The findings, published by the Royal Astronomical Society, show that the black hole is more than 30 billion times the mass…

image[Skip to main content](#main)

Astronomers discover ultramassive black hole using new technique

An ultramassive black hole, understood to be one of the largest ever detected, has been discovered by astronomers using a new technique.

The

findings, published by the Royal Astronomical Society, show that the black hole is more than 30 billion times the mass of the sun — a scale rarely seen by astronomers.

The researchers described it as an “extremely exciting” discovery that opens up “tantalizing” possibilities for detecting further black holes.

The team, led by Durham University in the United Kingdom, used a technique known as gravitational lensing — whereby a nearby galaxy is used as a giant magnifying glass to bend the light from a more distant object.This enabled them to

closely examine how light is bent by a black hole inside a galaxy hundreds of millions of light years from Earth.

Supercomputer simulations and images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope were also used to confirm the size of the black hole.

This is the first black hole found using gravitational lensing, with the team simulating light travelling through the universe hundreds of thousands of times, according to a news release from the Royal Astronomical Society.

“This particular black hole, which is roughly 30 billion times the mass of our Sun, is one of the biggest ever detected and on the upper limit of how large we believe black holes can theoretically become, so it is an extremely exciting discovery,” lead study author James Nightingale, an observational cosmologist from the Department of Physics at Durham University, said.

“Most of the biggest black holes that we know about are in an active state, where matter pulled in close to the black hole heats up and releases energy in the form of light, X-rays, and other radiation,” Nightingale added.

“However, gravitational lensing makes it possible to study inactive black holes, something not currently possible in distant galaxies.This approach could let us detect many more black holes beyond our local universe and reveal how these exotic objects evolved further back in cosmic time.”

Researchers believe the finding is significant as it “opens up the tantalising possibility that astronomers can discover far more inactive and ultramassive black holes than previously thought” and “investigate how they grew so large,” according to the news release.

The story of this particular discovery started back in 2004 when fellow Durham University astronomer, Alastair Edge, a research fellow, noticed a giant arc of a gravitational lens when reviewing images of a galaxy survey, according to the news release.

The team has now revisited the discovery and explored it further with the help of NASA’s Hubble telescope and the DiRAC COSMA8 supercomputer.

Ultramassive black holes are the most massive objects in the universe and a rare find for astronomers.

Their origins are unclear, with some believing they were formed from the merging of galaxies billions of years ago.

Each time a galaxy merges with another one, stars are lost and a black hole gains mass — which accounts for the incredibly high mass of some black holes.

MORE SCI-TECH NEWS

RISKIN REPORTS

” target=”_blank”>https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.6257506″>

Dan Riskin on a new development in carbon capture technology

https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.6236120

Dan Riskin on why migratory birds end up in the wrong place

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

TREND LINE |

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/poilievre-surpasses-trudeau-when-it-comes-to-preferred-prime-minister-nanos-1.6335280″>

Poilievre surpasses Trudeau when it comes to preferred prime minister: Nanos

The federal Liberals are trending downward on three key measures while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has surpassed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when it comes to the question of who Canadians would prefer now as their prime minister, according to Nanos Research.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/poilievre-surpasses-trudeau-when-it-comes-to-preferred-prime-minister-nanos-1.6335280

BREAKING |

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/responding-to-indigenous-vatican-rejects-discovery-doctrine-1.6335408″>

Responding to Indigenous, Vatican rejects Discovery Doctrine

The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the ‘Doctrine of Discovery,’ the theories backed by 15th-century ‘papal bulls’ that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property law today.

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/responding-to-indigenous-vatican-rejects-discovery-doctrine-1.6335408

opinion |

https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/this-is-how-much-debt-is-normal-for-your-age-1.6335429″>

This is how much debt is normal for your age

Have you ever stopped to wonder how much debt is typical for your age?

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/this-is-how-much-debt-is-normal-for-your-age-1.6335429

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/leave-this-with-me-alberta-premier-heard-on-call-with-covid-19-protester-1.6334786″>

‘Leave this with me’: Alberta premier heard on call with COVID-19 protester

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in a leaked cellphone call, commiserated with a COVID-19 protester about his trial while divulging to him there was an internal dispute over how Crown prosecutors were handling COVID-19 cases.

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/leave-this-with-me-alberta-premier-heard-on-call-with-covid-19-protester-1.6334786

https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/as-canadians-miss-out-on-benefits-ottawa-promises-automatic-tax-filing-is-on-the-way-1.6335333″>

As Canadians miss out on benefits, Ottawa promises automatic tax filing is on the way

The Canada Revenue Agency will pilot a new automatic system next year to help vulnerable Canadians who don’t file their taxes get their benefits.This week’s federal budget says the Canada Revenue Agency will also present a plan in 2024 to expand the service, following consultations with stakeholders and community organizations.

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/as-canadians-miss-out-on-benefits-ottawa-promises-automatic-tax-filing-is-on-the-way-1.6335333

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/i-started-breaking-down-friends-remember-15-year-old-calgary-homicide-victim-1.6334756″>

‘I started breaking down:’ Friends remember 15-year-old Calgary homicide victim

A 15-year-old girl shot to death in the community of Martindale early Tuesday morning, has now been identified by friends and police as Sarah Alexis Jorquera.

[]https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/i-started-breaking-down-friends-remember-15-year-old-calgary-homicide-victim-1.6334756

https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canada-makes-amendments-to-foreign-homebuyers-ban-here-s-what-they-look-like-1.6334287″>

Canada makes amendments to foreign homebuyers ban – here’s what they look like

Months after Canada’s ban on foreign homebuyers took effect on Jan.1, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has made several amendments to the legislation allowing non-Canadians to purchase residential properties in certain circumstances.

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canada-makes-amendments-to-foreign-homebuyers-ban-here-s-what-they-look-like-1.6334287

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/it-s-going-to-take-the-community-yukon-faces-canada-s-worst-toxic-drug-death-rate-1.6335338″>

‘It’s going to take the community’: Yukon faces Canada’s worst toxic drug death rate

When the doors close at night at the administration office at Yukon’s Carcross Tagish First Nation, a van hits the road and drives through the communities to offer naloxone to reverse overdoses, drug testing kits, food and even a friendly face to help those struggling because of the opioid crisis.

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/it-s-going-to-take-the-community-yukon-faces-canada-s-worst-toxic-drug-death-rate-1.6335338

https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/silicon-valley-bank-s-chaos-has-been-bittersweet-for-crypto-and-wine-1.6335591″>

Silicon Valley Bank’s chaos has been bittersweet for crypto and wine

Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse earlier this month dealt a major blow to the wine and crypto firms that entrusted their money with and depended on the lender to stay afloat.

[]https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/silicon-valley-bank-s-chaos-has-been-bittersweet-for-crypto-and-wine-1.6335591

Canada

Final report into 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting to be released today

The public inquiry that investigated the April 2020 mass murder of 22 people in Nova Scotia is releasing its final report today.

Court ruling coming in trial of retired Winnipeg priest charged with indecent assault

A Winnipeg judge is set to make a court ruling on Thursday in the trial of a retired priest accused of assaulting a woman while she was a student at a residential school more than 50 years ago

B.C.parents win battle to put son’s Indigenous name on his birth certificate

After 13 months of fighting, the parents of a Campbell River, B.C., boy have received a birth certificate that accurately reflects the spelling of his name.

‘It’s going to take the community’: Yukon faces Canada’s worst toxic drug death rate

When the doors close at night at the administration office at Yukon’s Carcross Tagish First Nation, a van hits the road and drives through the communities to offer naloxone to reverse overdoses, drug testing kits, food and even a friendly face to help those struggling because of the opioid crisis.

RCMP arrest 5 while executing search warrant at Wet’suwet’en protest camp

RCMP officers executed a search warrant at a protest camp on Wet’suwet’en traditional territory near the under-construction Coastal GasLink pipeline Wednesday.

‘I started breaking down:’ Friends remember 15-year-old Calgary homicide victim

A 15-year-old girl shot to death in the community of Martindale early Tuesday morning, has now been identified by friends and police as Sarah Alexis Jorquera.

World

Bolsonaro returns to Brazil after 3-month stint in Florida

Former President Jair Bolsonaro arrived back in Brazil on Thursday after a three-month stay in Florida, seeking a new role on the political scene as authorities in the capital braced for the far-right populist’s return.

Fiery train derailment in Minnesota prompts evacuations

A train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire in Minnesota early Thursday and nearby residents were ordered to evacuate their homes, authorities said.

Taiwan’s president speaks to her island’s safety on U.S.stop

Taiwan’s president addressed members of New York’s Taiwanese community in a U.S.stopover on her way to Central America as she seeks to rally allies of the self-ruled island amid tensions with China.

Bahrain sentences 3 for questioning Islamic teachings

Prosecutors in the Arab Gulf nation of Bahrain on Thursday have handed down yearlong prison sentences to three people for debating Islamic theology in a series of blog posts and online videos.

French foreign minister hopes Sweden, Finland join NATO soon

France’s top diplomat said Thursday that she hoped the NATO applications of Sweden and Finland would be “ratified quickly” as the Turkish parliament was expected to vote soon on whether Finland should join the 30-member alliance.

Top UN court to rule in Iran-U.S.

dispute over frozen assets

The United Nations’ highest court is set to rule Thursday in a case filed by Iran against the United States over frozen Iranian assets worth some $2 billion that the U.S.Supreme Court awarded to victims of a 1983 bombing in Lebanon and other attacks linked to Tehran.

Politics

TREND LINE

TREND LINE |

Poilievre surpasses Trudeau when it comes to preferred prime minister: Nanos

The federal Liberals are trending downward on three key measures while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has surpassed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when it comes to the question of who Canadians would prefer now as their prime minister, according to Nanos Research.

Spending to increase economic capacity is fiscally responsible, Freeland says in post-budget defence

Defending her latest federal budget, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said spending that increases economic capacity is fiscally responsible.

From royal titles to animal testing: The law changes coming in the budget bill

The 2023 federal budget released this week includes a series of affordability measures, tax changes, and major spends on health care and the clean economy.But, tucked into the 255-page document are a series of smaller items you may have missed.

Health

‘It’s going to take the community’: Yukon faces Canada’s worst toxic drug death rate

When the doors close at night at the administration office at Yukon’s Carcross Tagish First Nation, a van hits the road and drives through the communities to offer naloxone to reverse overdoses, drug testing kits, food and even a friendly face to help those struggling because of the opioid crisis.

Clock ticks on Liberal-NDP deal as budget omits pharmacare bill promised in 2023

One of the Liberals’ outstanding promises for 2023 in their deal with the NDP was conspicuously absent from the federal budget.

Ontario government and doctors reach last-minute deal in effort to save virtual ERs

The Canadian Press has learned that Ontario has granted a three-month funding extension for doctors to provide care through virtual emergency departments.

Sci-Tech

Astronomers discover ultramassive black hole using new technique

An ultramassive black hole, understood to be one of the largest ever detected, has been discovered by astronomers using a new technique.

Could Usain Bolt outrun a 900-pound dinosaur? Physics professor poses the question

A new academic paper pits legendary sprinter Usain Bolt against a 900-pound dinosaur to see who could run a 100-metre distance the fastest.

Elon Musk and scientists call for halt to AI race sparked by ChatGPT

A group of prominent computer scientists and other tech industry notables such as Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak are calling for a 6-month pause to consider AI’s risks on society.

Entertainment

Actress Melissa Joan Hart describes helping children flee campus after Nashville school shooting

Actress Melissa Joan Hart says she was near Nashville’s Covenant School soon after Monday’s deadly shooting of six people, including three children, and helped some students get away from the scene.

Jeremy Renner talks tragedy and triumph with Diane Sawyer

Jeremy Renner has sat down for his first interview since the New Year’s Day accident that could have killed him.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s widely watched ski crash trial nears end

The closely watched trial over a 2016 ski collision between Gwyneth Paltrow and the retired optometrist suing her for the injuries he sustained is expected to draw to a close Thursday, when attorneys give closing arguments and send the case to the eight-member jury.

Business

EU chief urges caution in tech trade with China

The European Union must be prepared to develop measures to protect trade and investment that China might exploit for its own security and military purposes, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Thursday.

China’s No.2 leader says economy improved in March

China’s new No.2 leader said Thursday its economic recovery improved in March and tried to reassure foreign companies the country is committed to opening to the world.

U.S.futures rise as bank fears ease; US econ data on the way

Wall Street is poised to open with gains Thursday as worries over turmoil in the banking industry ease and attention turns toward government economic data coming out the next couple of days.

Lifestyle

The first round-the-world passenger cruise took place 100 years ago.Here’s what it was like on board

On March 30, 1923, exactly 100 years ago, the world’s first continuous passenger cruise ship arrived back in New York City after completing a 130-day voyage.

Incredible photos show northern lights dancing across much of Canada

Sky-gazers and shutterbugs across much of Canada were treated to a spectacular display of northern lights Thursday night and into Friday morning.

Meet the Ontario stats prof who claims he can’t stop beating Roll Up To Win

A statistics professor at the University of Waterloo discusses how he continues to beat the Roll Up To Win contest at Tim Hortons.

Sports

Former Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who shot girlfriend, eligible for parole

Former Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has applied for parole and is expected to attend a hearing on Friday that will decide if he can be released from prison 10 years after killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by shooting her multiple times through a toilet door in his home.

Canadian tennis star Andreescu out with torn ankle ligaments

Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu says she sustained two torn ligaments in her left ankle in a recent match at the Miami Open.

Canadian swimmer McIntosh sets women’s world record in 400-metre freestyle

Sixteen-year-old Summer McIntosh of Toronto has set a world record in the women’s 400-metre freestyle event at the Canadian swimming trials.

Autos

The Lamborghini Revuelto is a 1,001 horsepower hybrid supercar flagship

Closing out a half century of purely gasoline-powered V12 cars going back to the brand’s earliest models, Luxury Italian sports car designer Lamborghini has unveiled its first supercar with a charging port.

Alonso seeks 33rd Formula 1 win after 100 podium finishes

After claiming his 100th podium in Saudi Arabia in confusing and controversial circumstances, Fernando Alonso is looking for a better result at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix than his two third-place finishes so far this Formula One season.

U.S.opens investigation into Tesla seat belts coming loose

U.S.

highway safety regulators have opened yet another investigation into problems with Teslas, this time tied to complaints that the seat belts may not hold people in a crash..

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Ex-priest, 93, acquitted of assaulting girl at Manitoba residential school decades ago

[Skip to main content](#main) Ex-priest, 93, acquitted of assaulting girl at Manitoba residential school decades ago A Winnipeg judge has acquitted a now-retired 93-year-old priest of assault after a residential school survivor accused him of forcing himself on her more than 50 years ago. Victoria McIntosh testified she was assaulted by Arthur Masse in a…
Ex-priest, 93, acquitted of assaulting girl at Manitoba residential school decades ago

Subscribe US Now