And there was light
Down To Earth|August 16, 2020
Scientists have for some time now theorised scenarios in which black hole mergers are accompanied by light. We now have evidence, maybe
ADITYA MISRA
And there was light

WHEN THE darkest objects in the universe interact, you do not expect to see fireworks. Except that in this instance we have, believes a group of scientists. In a galaxy billions of light years from Earth, two black holes, each with a mass dozens of times of our Sun, collided and merged, giving off a bright flare. Until now, black hole collisions were registered from the gravitational waves—jiggling of space and time—that the event generated. An accompanying flash means that not only can the collision of these unimaginably dense bodies be heard but also seen, which gives researchers a new tool to study them and the galaxies they are in.

Researchers have for long theorised that black hole mergers can be accompanied by light. They might have some evidence now, but they still do not rule out that other factors could have caused the flare.

It began on May 21, 2019, when two observatories on either side of the Atlantic ocean—the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US; and the Virgo detector at the European Gravitational Observatory in Italy—announced a “candidate” gravitational wave event, which they named S190521g. “If confirmed #S190521g is most likely about 2 billion light years distant,” said a tweet by LIGO on May 21, 2019. “Preliminary analysis indicates that, if confirmed, #S190521g is most likely a pair of merging #BlackHoles,” said another tweet the same day. LIGO is yet to confirm the event.

Esta historia es de la edición August 16, 2020 de Down To Earth.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición August 16, 2020 de Down To Earth.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE DOWN TO EARTHVer todo
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Down To Earth

A SPRIG TO CARE FOR

Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
DIGGING A DISASTER
Down To Earth

DIGGING A DISASTER

Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Down To Earth

REVIEW THE TREATMENT

Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
Down To Earth

MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE

As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Down To Earth

Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?

Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
TROUBLED WOODS
Down To Earth

TROUBLED WOODS

Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 01, 2024
BLINDING GLOW
Down To Earth

BLINDING GLOW

The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 01, 2024
GROUND REALITY
Down To Earth

GROUND REALITY

What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
Down To Earth

GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC

On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
Vinchurni's Gandhi
Down To Earth

Vinchurni's Gandhi

A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 01, 2024