Supermassive Black Hole in Milky Way Found to be Spinning Rapidly, Distorting Space-Time
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have revealed that the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, known as Sagittarius A*, is rotating at an incredibly high speed, causing a profound impact on the fabric of space-time. The findings were made by a team of physicists who studied Sagittarius A* using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
Published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the study confirmed that the black hole’s rapid spin is responsible for a phenomenon called Lense-Thirring precession, also known as frame-dragging. Lead author of the study, Ruth Daly, explains that a rapidly rotating black hole drags all the surrounding space-time, compressing it and giving it a football-like shape.
Space-time is a concept that establishes the interconnectedness of space and time. It was initially proposed by mathematician Hermann Minkowski in 1908 and further developed by the renowned physicist Albert Einstein. According to this theory, space and time are inseparable dimensions that form a four-dimensional continuum.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond Sagittarius A*. By understanding the behavior of this supermassive black hole, scientists can gain insights into the history of black holes and their role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Black holes have perplexed researchers since the identification of the first one in 1964. However, it was only in 2019 that humanity was able to capture the first-ever image of a black hole, M87*.
In addition to the revelations about Sagittarius A*, scientists have recently unearthed another astonishing finding—a supermassive black hole believed to be 13.2 billion years old, just after the Big Bang. This ancient black hole, which is a staggering ten times larger than Sagittarius A*, is expected to provide further insights into the early universe and the formation of galaxies.
These groundbreaking discoveries bring us closer to understanding the enigmatic nature of black holes and unlock the secrets of our universe. As researchers continue to delve into the mysteries of these celestial phenomena, humanity’s knowledge of the cosmos expands exponentially, forever altering our perception of the universe we call home.
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