Scientists discover bizarre region around black holes that proves Einstein right yet again [View all]

By Ben Turner published 22 hours ago

Einstein's general theory of relativity predicted that so-called 'plunging regions' around black holes would accelerate matter into them at the speed of light. Now, X-ray observations of a remote black hole have proved him right.



a black hole in the middle of a swirling orange cloud
An artist's illustration of a black hole and its accretion disk. (Image credit: Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty Images)

Astronomers have observed matter plunging into the mouth of a black hole at the speed of light, proving a key prediction made by Einstein right, yet again.

In 1915, Einstein's general theory of relativity predicted that once matter gets sufficiently close to a black hole, the immense force of the space-time tear's gravity should force it to abandon a circular orbit and plunge straight in.

Now, X-ray observations made with NASA's NuSTAR and NICER space telescopes have finally confirmed that this so-called "plunging region" exists. The team, led by researchers at the Department of Physics at Oxford, behind the discovery say studying it could reveal some fundamental mysteries about black holes and the nature of space-time. The researchers published their findings May 16 in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

a black hole in the middle of a swirling orange cloud
An artist's illustration of a black hole and its accretion disk. (Image credit: Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty Images)
Astronomers have observed matter plunging into the mouth of a black hole at the speed of light, proving a key prediction made by Einstein right, yet again.

In 1915, Einstein's general theory of relativity predicted that once matter gets sufficiently close to a black hole, the immense force of the space-time tear's gravity should force it to abandon a circular orbit and plunge straight in.

Now, X-ray observations made with NASA's NuSTAR and NICER space telescopes have finally confirmed that this so-called "plunging region" exists. The team, led by researchers at the Department of Physics at Oxford, behind the discovery say studying it could reveal some fundamental mysteries about black holes and the nature of space-time. The researchers published their findings May 16 in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/scientists-discover-bizarre-region-around-black-holes-that-proves-einstein-right-yet-again