Persistent “hiccups” in a far-off galaxy draw astronomers to new black hole behavior

Analysis reveals a tiny black hole repeatedly punching through a larger black hole’s disk of gas.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
March 27, 2024 ~9 min

Astronomers spot 18 black holes gobbling up nearby stars

The detections more than double the number of known tidal disruption events in the nearby universe.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
Jan. 29, 2024 ~8 min


LIGO surpasses the quantum limit

Researchers achieve a landmark in quantum squeezing.

Whitney Clavin • mit
Oct. 23, 2023 ~16 min

Astronomers detect the closest example yet of a black hole devouring a star

The event was spotted in infrared data — also a first — suggesting further searches in this band could turn up more such bursts.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
April 28, 2023 ~8 min

Study: Without more data, a black hole’s origins can be “spun” in any direction

Current measurements of black holes are not enough to nail down how the invisible giants form in the universe, researchers say.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
Dec. 9, 2022 ~7 min

Mysteriously bright flash is a black hole jet pointing straight toward Earth, astronomers say

The observations could illuminate how supermassive black holes feed and grow.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
Nov. 30, 2022 ~6 min

International team observes innermost structure of quasar jet

New observations show the deepest parts of the quasar's plasma jet in a project led by MIT Haystack Observatory.

Nancy Wolfe Kotary | MIT Haystack Observatory • mit
Nov. 22, 2022 ~8 min

Astronomers find a “cataclysmic” pair of stars with the shortest orbit yet

The stars circle each other every 51 minutes, confirming a decades-old prediction.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
Oct. 5, 2022 ~7 min


American Astronomical Society honors seven MIT affiliates with 2022 awards, prizes

Two MIT professors and five alumni recognized for outstanding contributions to astronomy research, education, and communication.

Sandi Miller | Department of Physics • mit
June 8, 2022 ~8 min

Astronomers snap first-ever image of supermassive black hole Sagitarrius A*

The image reveals a glowing, donut-shaped ring at the Milky Way’s heart.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
May 12, 2022 ~8 min

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