Researchers Predict Imminent Collision Between 2 Supermassive Black Holes

The galaxy in question here is SDSS J1430+2303, which hosts the black holes having a combined mass of roughly 200 million suns.

Edited by Richa Sharma | Updated: 30 August 2022 13:32 IST

Researchers Predict Imminent Collision Between 2 Supermassive Black Holes

Photo Credit: NASA

Researchers noticed variations in the X-ray light coming from the galaxy

Highlights

Scientists advise observing the galaxy constantly to understand collision
This emission can be associated with binary supermassive black holes
An analysis of the radio observations was conducted, proved inconclusive

Fluctuations in light emerging from the centre of a galaxy have prompted researchers to suspect that two supermassive black holes might collide with each other within the next three years. The galaxy in question here is SDSS J1430+2303, which hosts the black holes having a combined mass of roughly 200 million suns. While scientists aren't sure if any such event will take place, they advise observing the galaxy constantly to understand what's going on at its heart. The ripples generated by the collision of the black holes are in a very low frequency range to be detected by current observatories.

However, despite this, if the collision happens, scientists believe it will result in an immense outburst of light across the spectrum. The data in the light, according to researchers, might help scientists unravel how such events take place.

To gain a better understanding, astronomers from Guangzhou University in China have used data from a range of X-ray observatories while covering a time period of 200 days. They tried to identify the high-energy signatures that are expected to be detected in a close supermassive black hole binary or a decaying orbit.

The team has noticed variations in the X-ray light coming from the galaxy. In addition, they have also observed a type of emission that is linked to iron falling onto a black hole and confirmed this detection with 99.96 percent confirmation with the help of two different instruments.

While this emission can be associated with binary supermassive black holes, researchers could not detect the smoking gun characteristics to confirm the black hole binary.

An analysis of the radio observations was conducted but even that proved to be inconclusive. It isn't sure what is happening with the galaxy but astronomers stress that something strange is definitely going on at its heart.

Do the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 offer enough over last year's models? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.