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Black holes

Black holes wobbling three times a second have proved Einstein right

12 October 2022

A pair of merging black holes show extreme signs of gravity-induced orbital precession, or wobbling, as predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity


Across the universe. Traveling in space. Time travel. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.; Shutterstock ID 200832383; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Why general relativity is known as a background independent theory

3 August 2022

Space-time isn't expanding into anything because general relativity is what we call a background independent theory. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein sets out to explain what this means


Black hole

First picture of our galaxy’s supermassive black hole revealed

12 May 2022

The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration has released the first picture of our galaxy’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, and it’s just as predicted


This image show stars orbiting very close to Sgr A* (centre), the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way. They were obtained with the GRAVITY instrument on ESO???s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) at the end of March 2021.

We’ve seen our galaxy’s huge black hole more clearly than ever before

14 December 2021

Astronomers have observed Sagittarius A* – the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy – closer than ever before, and Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity still holds up


Artistic impression of the Double Pulsar system

A pair of pulsars in a tight embrace have proved Einstein right again

13 December 2021

After monitoring a pair of pulsars in tight orbit around one another for 16 years, astronomers conclude that their behaviour is consistent with Einstein’s predictions


Black hole

X-rays can echo and bend around the back of supermassive black holes

28 July 2021

Flashes of X-rays have been spotted echoing from behind a supermassive black hole, confirming one of the predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity


Travelling through a wormhole without dying may actually be possible

Travelling through a wormhole without dying may actually be possible

31 August 2020

Most of the wormholes that could theoretically exist cannot be traversed, but adding an extra dimension makes it possible to make one you could pass through without dying


Science with Sam: What is a black hole? And could you survive one?

Science with Sam: What is a black hole? And could you survive one?

25 August 2020

Ever wondered what a black hole is made of, or what would happen if you fell into one? Let our new video series Science with Sam explain everything.


space

The fastest star in our galaxy moves at 8 per cent the speed of light

14 August 2020

Astronomers have spotted the fastest star ever, whizzing at 8 per cent the speed of light around our galaxy’s supermassive black hole closer than any star we’ve seen before


Einstein was right about how extremely massive objects fall in space

Einstein was right about how extremely massive objects fall in space

10 June 2020

A crucial pillar of Einstein’s theory of general relativity has been tested with the motion of stars at the highest precision yet, and the theory has held up once again


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