Black hole mystery solved: How did it destroy the stars?

Researchers led by Queen’s University Belfast have revealed how a massive black hole destroyed two stars using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other advanced telescopes.

In 2019, astronomers witnessed a star that drifted too close to a black hole being torn apart by powerful gravitational forces. Following this event, the remnants of the star accumulated in a disk shape around the black hole, creating a "stellar graveyard." New findings have shown that this disk began to expand and collide with another star or a smaller black hole. This collision triggers X-ray bursts that repeat every 48 hours.

Dr. Matt Nicholl, who led the team, compared the event to a diver splashing water every time they enter a pool, stating, "Every time the star collides with the gas disk around the black hole, it causes a massive burst of gas and X-rays."

The bursts were recorded by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and connected two mysteries that previously only had clues. Dr. Dheeraj Pasham from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology remarked, "This means solving two cosmic mysteries in a single discovery."

Dr. Andrew Mummery from the University of Oxford added, "Understanding the source of these regular bursts will allow us to measure the prevalence and distances of objects around black holes."