Astronomers have just unveiled a stunning find: the clearest view of a star collapsing into a black hole. This dramatic event was uncovered in data from a NASA telescope that searched for asteroids and comets back in 2014. The telescope, called WISE, captured a bright source of infrared light in the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest galactic neighbor.
Despite its main goal of hunting asteroids, WISE ended up providing a treasure trove of information about a massive star that became brighter for three years before fading away, leaving a dusty shell. This star, known as M31-2014-DS1, is believed to be the first observed instance of a star collapsing directly into a black hole without going supernova first—a theory astronomers had speculated about for years.
Kishalay De, leading the research from Columbia University, described the discovery as “the most surprising of my life.” The star, once about 13 times heavier than our Sun, lost mass over time and eventually shed its outer layers. By its end, it weighed about five solar masses. Instead of exploding, it simply collapsed inward, something not previously seen with stars of this mass.
De mentioned, “The fading of this star is highly unusual, suggesting it didn’t explode as expected.” This raises questions about how similar stars might behave when they reach their end. Gravity, gas pressure, and shock waves can all play a chaotic role, leading to different outcomes.
This isn’t the first hint of such phenomena. Back in 2010, another case was noted in the Fireworks Galaxy, NGC 6946, but it was less clear and less studied. Morgan MacLeod, an astronomy lecturer at Harvard, noted that new findings about black holes are reshaping our understanding. “We’re getting to watch this process happen in real time,” he said.
What’s more, studies suggest that massive stars collapsing without explosions could be more common than we think. Recent research indicates that many stellar deaths might go unnoticed, subtly altering the cosmic landscape. As De pointed out, “It says that these things may be quietly happening out there and easily going unnoticed.”
As we glean more insights from the universe’s distant past, these discoveries remind us of the complex, hidden dramas unfolding beyond our sight.
