WASHINGTON — Black holes form in many ways, some dramatic and explosive, while others are surprisingly quiet. A recent discovery reveals a star, named M31-2014-DS1, that turned into a black hole without the expected supernova explosion. Researchers observed this star in the Andromeda Galaxy, about 2.5 million light-years away. They noticed it gradually brightened before it nearly vanished from sight, only detectable by the faint glow of surrounding gas and dust.
This observation stands out because it suggests that many black holes may form without the fireworks of a supernova. Kishalay De, astrophysicist at the Flatiron Institute, emphasized its significance: “This provides evidence of black hole formation in real time.” The star originally had at least 13 times the mass of our sun and, over its life of about 15 million years, lost about 60% of its mass due to stellar winds.
Typically, when such a large star dies, it creates a neutron star or a supernova. The transition can leave behind a black hole if certain conditions align. De explained that when a massive star runs out of nuclear fuel, its core collapses, potentially leading to explosive outcomes or, as in this case, a more subdued transformation.
The researchers describe this event as a “failed supernova.” In this scenario, gravity overpowered the energy from the collapsing core, resulting in a black hole without the violent expulsion of the star’s layers. The energy released during this process was about a thousand times less than that of a typical supernova.
Interestingly, the characteristics of the star likely played a crucial role. It’s believed that because the star did not spin rapidly before collapsing, most of its mass fell into the black hole while only the outer layers were ejected. Morgan MacLeod from Harvard noted this quieter ending might be a key factor in understanding how black holes form.
Researchers are now curious about how common these quiet transformations are in the universe. They suspect there could be more stars like M31-2014-DS1, hinting at a relatively unknown pathway for black hole formation.
This discovery sheds light on a lengthy mystery. For over 50 years, scientists have known about black holes but have had limited observational evidence of how they form. By studying cases like M31-2014-DS1, we are stepping closer to understanding these enigmatic entities.”
As exploration of the cosmos continues, the addition of new techniques and technology may uncover even more about how quietly a star can slip away into a black hole.
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