British scientists have discovered an \u201cultramassive\u201d black hole with a mass about 30 billion times that of the sun.<\/p>\n
Physicists from Durham University were able to find it and assess its mass by analysing how its gravity distorts light travelling past it through space. It is the first time a black hole has been detected by analysing its gravitational effect on the light from a distant galaxy.<\/p>\n
Researchers believe it is close to the \u201cupper limit\u201d of how massive black holes can become. They said the manner of its discovery could open the door to many more, describing it as \u201can extremely exciting\u201d find.<\/p>\n
Massive objects with strong gravitational fields, such as black holes, galaxies and galaxy clusters, can act as cosmic magnifying glasses, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a> (subscription).<\/p>\n British scientists discover one of the largest black holes ever detected – an "ultramassive" black hole at the centre of a galaxy<\/p>\n They found it by detecting the way its gravity "lenses" light passing by https:\/\/t.co\/Bc9wFhs5LZ<\/a><\/p>\n — Kaya Burgess (@kayaburgess) March 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n