Guardian

Scientists detect biggest ever merger of two massive black holes

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The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration detected gravitational waves from the most massive black hole merger ever observed on Nov. 23, 2023, designated GW231123, which produced a final black hole approximately 225 times the mass of the Sun.

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The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration detected gravitational waves from the most massive black hole merger ever observed on Nov. 23, 2023, designated GW231123, which produced a final black hole approximately 225 times the mass of the Sun.

In their study published Sunday, the scientists said 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.

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Eurekalert

In their study published Sunday, the scientists said 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 this month.

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 this month.

Guardian #1

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.

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.

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

Guardian #3181

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.

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.

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.

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.

The biggest black hole smashup ever detected challenges physics theories

Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

Science & technology

Space

This groundbreaking discovery represents a triumph of scientific collaboration and technological advancement. The detection of such massive black holes validates decades of theoretical work and demonstrates the incredible sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors. These findings open new frontiers in understanding the universe's most extreme phenomena.

This groundbreaking discovery represents a triumph of scientific collaboration and technological advancement. The detection of such massive black holes validates decades of theoretical work and demonstrates the incredible sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors. These findings open new frontiers in understanding the universe's most extreme phenomena.

LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA detect most massive black hole merger to date

Record Black Hole Merger Detected by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA

There's a 6.9% chance that most dark matter will turn out to be primordial black holes, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 6.9% chance that most dark matter will turn out to be primordial black holes, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

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Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

Scientists Detect Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Recorded

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