Guardian

Scientists detect biggest ever merger of two massive black holes

<span>The merger involved two black holes with masses of approximately 100 and 140 times the mass of the Sun, both spinning at nearly the maximum speed allowed by Einstein's theory of general relativity, creating unprecedented challenges for detection and analysis.</span

Gizmodo

Eurekalert

The merger involved two black holes with masses of approximately 100 and 140 times the mass of the Sun, both spinning at nearly the maximum speed allowed by Einstein's theory of general relativity, creating unprecedented challenges for detection and analysis.

<span>This discovery surpasses the previous record holder GW190521 from 2021, which produced a black hole only 140 times the mass of the Sun, making the new merger significantly more massive than any previously confirmed gravitational wave detection.</span

Science News

PHYS

This discovery surpasses the previous record holder GW190521 from 2021, which produced a black hole only 140 times the mass of the Sun, making the new merger significantly more massive than any previously confirmed gravitational wave detection.

<span>The black holes' masses fall within a theoretical "mass gap" where standard stellar evolution models predict black holes cannot form directly from collapsing stars, forcing scientists to reconsider formation theories and explore alternative explanations.</span

The black holes' masses fall within a theoretical "mass gap" where standard stellar evolution models predict black holes cannot form directly from collapsing stars, forcing scientists to reconsider formation theories and explore alternative explanations.

<span>Scientists propose the black holes may have formed through earlier mergers of smaller black holes or by accumulating mass in active galactic nuclei near supermassive black holes, though no single formation mechanism perfectly explains all observed characteristics.</span

Scientists propose the black holes may have formed through earlier mergers of smaller black holes or by accumulating mass in active galactic nuclei near supermassive black holes, though no single formation mechanism perfectly explains all observed characteristics.

<span>The detection pushes gravitational wave technology to its limits, with researchers capturing only 0.1 seconds of signal data, and the findings will be presented at the GR-Amaldi meeting in Glasgow in July 2025 with data made publicly available.</span

Mirage News

The detection pushes gravitational wave technology to its limits, with researchers capturing only 0.1 seconds of signal data, and the findings will be presented at the GR-Amaldi meeting in Glasgow in July 2025 with data made publicly available.

Guardian #1

<h2></h2>

Science & technology

Space

The discovery challenges fundamental assumptions about black hole formation and raises more questions than answers. The masses fall in a forbidden range according to current models, and the rapid spinning creates interpretation difficulties that may take years to resolve fully.

<span>The discovery challenges fundamental assumptions about black hole formation and raises more questions than answers. The masses fall in a forbidden range according to current models, and the rapid spinning creates interpretation difficulties that may take years to resolve fully.</span>

Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

Scientists detectDetect biggestMost everMassive mergerBlack ofHole twoMerger massiveEver black holesRecorded

The Spin

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

Scientists detectDetect biggestMost everMassive mergerBlack ofHole twoMerger massiveEver black holesRecorded

The Spin

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters