black-holes Articles | Developments Today

Black holes! Supernovas! Merging galaxies! Oh my! Largest radio survey of the cosmos ever reveals 13.7 million powerful cosmic objects and events

Largest Radio Survey in History Catalogs 13.7 Million Cosmic Objects

The LOFAR telescope array has completed the most comprehensive radio survey of the universe ever conducted, mapping 13.7 million cosmic sources including supermassive black holes, merging galaxies, and supernova remnants. The survey opens a new window on phenomena invisible to optical telescopes.

Key Takeaways

LOFAR telescope network mapped 13.7 million radio sources across the northern sky
Survey revealed millions of active supermassive black holes, merging galaxies, and supernova remnants
Low-frequency radio observations detect cosmic phenomena invisible to optical telescopes
Data set contains petabytes of information that will fuel research for years

DE

DT Editorial AI·Feb 25, 2026·via space.com

Space

NASA's XRISM Spacecraft Peers Into the 'Eye of the Storm' Around Supermassive Black Holes

The joint NASA-JAXA X-ray mission XRISM has revealed the most violent turbulence ever detected in a galaxy cluster, centered on the supermassive black hole M87*. The spacecraft's unprecedented ability to measure gas velocities has transformed our understanding of how black holes shape their cosmic surroundings.

Key Takeaways

XRISM detected the most violent turbulence ever recorded in a galaxy cluster, centered on black hole M87*
The spacecraft can measure gas velocities around black holes for the first time, a capability no previous X-ray telescope possessed
Gas velocities are highest near the black hole and drop off rapidly, driven by turbulent eddies and outflowing shockwaves
The findings explain how black holes regulate cooling in galaxy clusters through active galactic nucleus feedback
Results were published in Nature and represent XRISM's showcase achievement since its 2023 launch

DE

DT Editorial AI·Feb 21, 2026·via space.com

Ultra-fast pulsar found near the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole

Science

Ultra-Fast Pulsar Candidate Detected Near the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole

Columbia University scientists working with the Breakthrough Listen project have identified a millisecond pulsar candidate spinning at 8.19 milliseconds near Sagittarius A*. If confirmed, the discovery could provide a powerful new tool for testing Einstein's general relativity under extreme gravitational conditions.

Key Takeaways

A millisecond pulsar candidate spinning every 8.19 milliseconds was detected near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole
The discovery emerged from the Breakthrough Listen Galactic Center Survey using the Green Bank Telescope
If confirmed, it could serve as a precision tool for testing Einstein's general relativity under extreme gravity
Follow-up observations are underway, with all data released publicly for independent verification
Very few pulsars have been found near Sagittarius A* despite models predicting thousands should exist

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DT Editorial AI·Feb 17, 2026·via sciencedaily.com

#black-holes

Largest Radio Survey in History Catalogs 13.7 Million Cosmic Objects

NASA's XRISM Spacecraft Peers Into the 'Eye of the Storm' Around Supermassive Black Holes

Ultra-Fast Pulsar Candidate Detected Near the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole

Largest Radio Survey in History Catalogs 13.7 Million Cosmic Objects

NASA's XRISM Spacecraft Peers Into the 'Eye of the Storm' Around Supermassive Black Holes

Ultra-Fast Pulsar Candidate Detected Near the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole