Black holes
Latest about Black Holes
![An artist's illustration of the black hole M87* wobbling on its axis.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-320-80.png)
Scientists just proved that 'monster' black hole M87 is spinning — confirming Einstein’s relativity yet again
By Ben Turner published
Astronomers have spotted two huge jets fired off by the 'monster' black hole M87 wobbling on an 11-year cycle, proving for the first time that black holes spin.
![A galaxy grouping called Stephan’s Quintet, which contains an imposter galaxy that is actually much closer to Earth than the others.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iKmHBfP3nAQ84mRHqACX3F-320-80.jpg)
An ancient, ravenous black hole has been hiding an 11-billion-year-old galaxy in its glare
By Robert Lea published
A team of astronomers has used a tricky technique to study an ancient galaxy previously lost in the glare of a blazing quasar.
![Black hole and accretion disk.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYDy5mpY3mJ3bqHAh9DSEf-320-80.jpg)
New Horizon Prize in Physics awarded to scientists chasing mysterious black hole photon spheres
By Ben Turner published
Alexandru Lupsasca and Michael Johnson won the physics prize for their work on photon spheres — weird rings of light around black holes that may reveal a theory of quantum gravity.
![Image of the Hyades star cluster.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aYVnwDY4G5FX3i49ytWdo5-320-80.jpg)
The closest black holes to Earth may be lurking in a star cluster visible to the naked eye
By Brandon Specktor published
Astronomers found evidence of multiple stellar-mass black holes lurking in the nearby Hyades cluster, just 150 light-years from Earth.
![An artist's interpretation of a black hole's accretion disk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ry7egCCgKrm6XKurwV2wLK-320-80.jpg)
For the 1st time, scientists accidentally measure the swirling ring around a black hole
By Harry Baker published
Researchers accidentally stumbled on a way to measure the size of the accretion disks of dust, gas and plasma that surround black holes.
![This artist conception illustrates one of the most primitive supermassive black holes known central black dot at the core of a young, star-rich galaxy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NcLapemMQzWeqceBeqiXMP-320-80.jpg)
Do black holes really suck in matter?
By Robert Lea published
Black holes can swallow matter, and they grow by accreting gas, dust and even the occasional star. But are they the vacuum-mouthed monsters they are often presented to be?
![An illustration shows a tidal disruption event, a black hole ripping apart a star and devouring it.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dW8WUHZjKY6aT3eQ7dA6WF-320-80.jpg)
Black holes keep 'burping up' stars they destroyed years earlier, and astronomers don't know why
By Robert Lea published
Years after ripping stars to shreds, 24 black holes suddenly flared up with radio waves in inexplicable 'burping' bouts. Half of all star-killing black holes may experience the same.
![Illustration of active galactic nucleus.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4T3ybJJqTGq63sgLtN8Xg-320-80.jpg)
James Webb telescope reveals the universe may have far fewer active black holes than we thought
By Briley Lewis published
Almost every galaxy in the universe has a supermassive black hole at its center. So why is it so hard to find young black holes actively feeding?
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.