California: Scientists have observed the brightest known flare emitted from a supermassive black hole. According to researcher it is a burst that shone with the intensity of nearly 10 trillion suns. Such an event was first recorded in 2018. This new occurrence is helping astronomers understand the behavior and surroundings of black holes in the early universe.
A camera at the Palomar Observatory in California detected the flare. It grew to peak brightness over three months. It is gradually fading since then. Researchers believe a big star drifting too close to the black hole and being torn apart caused the burst.
“At first, we did not really believe the numbers about the energy,” said study author Matthew Graham of the California Institute of Technology, which operates the observatory.
Nature Astronomy published the details of the flare on Tuesday. It informed that the black hole responsible for the flare is located about 10 billion light years away. It is the most distant event of its kind ever recorded. The universe was still relatively young at the time the flare is believed to have occurred.
Scientists say these events provide clues about the gas, stars and magnetic activity surrounding these black holes. According to Joseph Michail of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who was not part of the study, such findings help researchers “probe the interaction of supermassive black holes with their environments early in the universe.”
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Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
