when galaxies crash black holes devour stars according to research released
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

When galaxies crash, black holes devour stars according to research released

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today When galaxies crash, black holes devour stars according to research released

Sun-like star close to a rapidly spinning supermassive black hole
Paris - AFP

Supermassive black holes rip up and devour hapless stars a hundred times more frequently than thought, according to research released on Monday.

Scientists had previously calculated that such cosmic cannibalism was extremely rare, happening once every 10,000 to 100,000 years per galaxy.

These so-called "tidal disruption events" had only been witnessed in astronomical surveys canvassing tens of thousands of galaxies.

But the authors of a new study said they spotted a star being destroyed by a black hole in a survey of only 15 galaxy collisions -- an extremely small sample size by astronomy standards.

The chances of a star disappearing into the maw of a black hole go up a hundredfold when galaxies crash, they concluded.

"Our surprising findings show that when two galaxies collide, it dramatically increases how often stars get ripped apart and swallowed," co-author James Mullaney, an astronomer at the University of Sheffield, told AFP. 

Supermassive black holes are millions to billions times more massive than our Sun.

Astronomers agree they reside at the centre of almost all known major galaxies. The Milky Way's own black hole -- currently dormant -- is tucked inside the constellation Sagittarius.

But exactly how these monsters form is still hotly debated among scientists.

For the new study, a team led by astronomer Clive Tadhunter, also from Sheffield, analysed 15 colliding galaxies, each containing billions of stars.

In 2015, they noticed a startling change in one of them -- galaxy F01004-2237, some 1.7 billion light years from Earth -- compared to a decade earlier. 

Sifting through historical data collected by the Catalina Sky Survey, the researchers traced the transformation to 2010. 

The brightness flared that year in a way consistent with the death throes of a star being ripped apart.

"Our study shows that galaxy collisions play an important role in causing stars to fall toward black holes," Mullaney said.

Once in the danger zone, the doomed star is sucked in by a black hole's gravitational pull. 

The stellar debris starts to travel faster and faster, heating up and emitting a flash of light as the star is obliterated.

When our own Milky Way merges with nearby Andromeda, in about 4.5 million years, such star-wrecking events will occur up to every ten years, the scientists said.

These light shows would be brighter than any stars or planets in the night sky.

"From Earth we'd see these events as a flare of light lasting a few months, or even years," said Mullaney.

Assuming, of course, there was anyone around to notice.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, were based on observations made with the William Herschel Telescope, operated on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

when galaxies crash black holes devour stars according to research released when galaxies crash black holes devour stars according to research released

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

when galaxies crash black holes devour stars according to research released when galaxies crash black holes devour stars according to research released

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today The Rake announces editorial updates

GMT 10:46 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

The Rake announces editorial updates
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Europe brings on charm and blue skies

GMT 11:51 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe brings on charm and blue skies
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today For the Variety of Interior Design Styles

GMT 10:46 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

For the Variety of Interior Design Styles
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today US Christian tourists see deep meaning

GMT 13:44 2018 Monday ,22 January

US Christian tourists see deep meaning
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 10:03 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 20:57 2017 Tuesday ,26 December

Erdogan Arrives in Port Sudan

GMT 12:39 2017 Sunday ,10 September

Leadership's unlimited support

GMT 08:42 2013 Wednesday ,18 September

Kuwaiti crude price down $1.44 to $107.04 per barrel

GMT 13:05 2016 Tuesday ,26 January

China fears halt market recovery

GMT 20:15 2016 Tuesday ,14 June

QNB raises $2.75bn in tier 1 notes sale

GMT 20:57 2014 Wednesday ,17 September

Egypt Mufti Shawki Allam wraps up visit to Lebanon

GMT 17:10 2012 Thursday ,10 May

Israeli forces detain Gaza fishermen

GMT 15:38 2016 Friday ,22 July

ANB reports $417.9m net profit in first half

GMT 15:54 2015 Sunday ,08 February

British stars vie for BAFTA glory ahead of Oscars

GMT 15:31 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Morocco’s GDP to Increase by 3.9% in 2017 Q1: HCP

GMT 12:21 2015 Saturday ,29 August

Wheat stock beyond safe limits

GMT 14:16 2011 Tuesday ,11 October

Hazy weather with chance of rain forecast in UAE

GMT 15:36 2015 Friday ,04 September

Bob Geldof offers to house four Syrian families

GMT 13:36 2017 Friday ,04 August

Egyptian, Algerian foreign ministers hold talks

GMT 11:48 2017 Sunday ,26 March

US stocks decline on Trump policy uncertainty

GMT 17:53 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

President of Croatia Meets Qatar's Ambassador
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday