Black Holes

What do black holes look and sound like? How do they form? And what happens when a person falls into one? The answers to most any black hole question.

Latest in Black Holes

a purple spiral cluster galaxy with a bright center. a white streak points straight up

Science

NASA recorded a black hole’s song, and you can listen to it NASA recorded a black hole’s song, and you can listen to it

By Tatyana Woodall

The first image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole in the Milky Way's center.

Science

Gaze upon the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy Gaze upon the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy

By Leto Sapunar

a beautiful night sky over a desert is glistening with stars, and the streak of the milky way galaxy stretches across

Science

With the arrival of Africa’s next radio telescope, Namibia sees a new dawn in astronomy With the arrival of Africa’s next radio telescope, Namibia sees a new dawn in astronomy

By Tatyana Woodall

Glowing red sphere of light around a black hole in a NASA simulation

Science

Giant black holes and dark matter may share a hot origin story Giant black holes and dark matter may share a hot origin story

By Leto Sapunar

a kilonova, a cosmic event between two neutron stars showing the collision in the middle and purple blue emissions coming off of it

Science

This kilonova could have created the first-ever extragalactic ‘sonic boom’ This kilonova could have created the first-ever extragalactic ‘sonic boom’

By Maggie Galloway

Red, horizontal splotches represent the center of the Milky Way galaxy with a greyscale background. A bright yellow dot represents the black hole at the center.

Science

See the heart of the Milky Way as it’s never been captured before See the heart of the Milky Way as it’s never been captured before

By Maggie Galloway

Glowing red sphere of light around a black hole in a NASA simulation

Science

We’re still in the dark about a key black hole paradox We’re still in the dark about a key black hole paradox

By Leto Sapunar

The Henize 2-10 starburst galaxy

Science

Black holes have a reputation as devourers. But they can help spawn stars, too. Black holes have a reputation as devourers. But they can help spawn stars, too.

NASA engineer standing in a tunnel holding six of the James Webb Telescope's hexagonal primary mirrors in the honeycomb formation

Science

The James Webb telescope could help solve the mystery of dark matter The James Webb telescope could help solve the mystery of dark matter

By Leto Sapunar

The galaxy cluster known as RBS 797

Science

NASA’s Chandra spacecraft spies clover-shaped voids left by supermassive black holes NASA’s Chandra spacecraft spies clover-shaped voids left by supermassive black holes

By Leto Sapunar

The mysterious burst AT2018cow

Science

Astronomers may have an origin story for ‘The Cow,’ a mysteriously powerful cosmic blast Astronomers may have an origin story for ‘The Cow,’ a mysteriously powerful cosmic blast

By Leto Sapunar

A black hole meets a white dwarf star

Science

Watch a black hole devour simulated stars Watch a black hole devour simulated stars

By Margo Milanowski

Astronomers recorded a whopping 35 gravitational wave events in just 5 months

Science

Astronomers recorded a whopping 35 gravitational wave events in just 5 months Astronomers recorded a whopping 35 gravitational wave events in just 5 months

An illustration of a quasar in space, blinding light that shoots out top and bottom, with matter swirling around perpendicularly.

Science

Blindingly bright black holes could help cosmologists see deeper into the universe’s past Blindingly bright black holes could help cosmologists see deeper into the universe’s past

By Charlie Wood

An illustration of a blue, circular star with space matter circling around it in an accretion disk, plus beams of light shooting vertically out of the star.

Science

This could be a brand new type of supernova This could be a brand new type of supernova

By Leto Sapunar

Flickering light could help astronomers weigh supermassive black holes

Science

Flickering light could help astronomers weigh supermassive black holes Flickering light could help astronomers weigh supermassive black holes

By Charlie Wood

An artist's depiction of a black hole with an accretion disk, a flat structure of material orbiting the black hole, and a jet of hot gas launching out from the center, called plasma.

Science

One of Einstein’s predictions on black holes has finally been confirmed One of Einstein’s predictions on black holes has finally been confirmed

A supermassive black hole inflates massive lobes, visible here in X-rays, above and below the Centaurus A galaxy.

Science

Black hole jets got some stellar glam shots thanks to this giant telescope Black hole jets got some stellar glam shots thanks to this giant telescope

By Charlie Wood

An artistic image inspired by a black hole-neutron star merger event, with lots of blue and red hues.

Science

Black holes can gobble up neutron stars whole Black holes can gobble up neutron stars whole

By Charlie Wood

kepler telescope

Science

Could A Black Hole Be Blocking The Light From That ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star? Could A Black Hole Be Blocking The Light From That ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star?

Simulation of a black hole.

Science

Astronomers may have found the surprisingly elusive medium-sized black hole Astronomers may have found the surprisingly elusive medium-sized black hole

By Charlie Wood

Shadow of a black hole

Science

Something sent one of the universe’s heaviest black holes flying Something sent one of the universe’s heaviest black holes flying

By Charlie Wood

The first-ever image of the magnetic fields of a black hole.

Science

Astronomers used telescopic ‘sunglasses’ to photograph a black hole’s magnetic field Astronomers used telescopic ‘sunglasses’ to photograph a black hole’s magnetic field

By Charlie Wood

Science

Ask Us Anything: What would happen if you fell into a black hole? Ask Us Anything: What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

Map of 25,000 supermassive black holes

Science

Check out the most extensive map of black holes ever Check out the most extensive map of black holes ever

By Erin Fennessy

An artist's representation of the kilonova spotted by telescopes like Hubble. Kilonovas are as much as 1,000 times brighter than typical novas.

Science

This ‘kilonova’ shines so bright, it defies the odds This ‘kilonova’ shines so bright, it defies the odds

By Jessica Boddy

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), pictured here, helped pin down the mysterious signals.

Science

Astronomers have traced mysterious radio waves to a source in our own galaxy Astronomers have traced mysterious radio waves to a source in our own galaxy

By Charlie Wood

This illustration depicts a star (in the foreground) experiencing spaghettification as it's sucked in by a supermassive black hole (in the background) during a 'tidal disruption event'.

Science

Astronomers caught a black hole slurping up a star like spaghetti Astronomers caught a black hole slurping up a star like spaghetti

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

An image taken by the European Southern Observatory in Chile shows the Apep star system and the stellar dust particles surrounding it.

Science

This pair of dancing stars will one day collide and explode This pair of dancing stars will one day collide and explode

By María Paula Rubiano A.

The Nobel Prize in physics honors insights on black holes—including the one in our own galaxy

Science

The Nobel Prize in physics honors insights on black holes—including the one in our own galaxy The Nobel Prize in physics honors insights on black holes—including the one in our own galaxy

By Jessica Boddy

Artist’s impression of binary black holes about to collide.

Science

These black holes collided so hard they made space-time jiggle These black holes collided so hard they made space-time jiggle

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

An artists interpretation of microquasar SS 433 and Fermi J1913+0515.

Science

These two celestial bodies share a heartbeat, puzzling scientists These two celestial bodies share a heartbeat, puzzling scientists

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

An artist's interpretation of what a ninth planet could look like.

Science

Planet Nine might not be a planet at all Planet Nine might not be a planet at all

By Charlie Wood

Two starts orbiting a black hole, as portrayed by an illustrator

Science

Astronomers just found the closest black hole to Earth Astronomers just found the closest black hole to Earth

By Charlie Wood

A rendering of the light streaming around a black hole.

Science

Last year, we finally photographed a black hole. Now what? Last year, we finally photographed a black hole. Now what?

By Charlie Wood

Starlink satellites streak across telescope images of the stars.

Science

Elon Musk insists his satellite swarm won’t interfere with science. This model disagrees. Elon Musk insists his satellite swarm won’t interfere with science. This model disagrees.

By Charlie Wood

An image from the new Cosmos series, premiering March 9 on National Geographic.

Science

How the writers of Cosmos bring science to life How the writers of Cosmos bring science to life

By Charlie Wood

Glowing red sphere of light around a black hole in a NASA simulation

Science

What would happen if you fell into a black hole? What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

By Maria Paula Rubiano

the first image of a black hole

Science

This year, space stole all the headlines. Here are our favorite stories This year, space stole all the headlines. Here are our favorite stories

By Charlie Wood

There’s a chance the black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually a wormhole

Science

There’s a chance the black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually a wormhole There’s a chance the black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually a wormhole

By Charlie Wood

Here’s how life could thrive on a planet orbiting a black hole—and other alternative suns

Science

Here’s how life could thrive on a planet orbiting a black hole—and other alternative suns Here’s how life could thrive on a planet orbiting a black hole—and other alternative suns

By Charlie Wood

That groundbreaking photo of a black hole has raised some mighty big questions

Science

That groundbreaking photo of a black hole has raised some mighty big questions That groundbreaking photo of a black hole has raised some mighty big questions

By Neel V. Patel

A flashing mystery is unfolding at the center of the Milky Way

Science

A flashing mystery is unfolding at the center of the Milky Way A flashing mystery is unfolding at the center of the Milky Way

By Charlie Wood

We might finally know how the first black holes formed

Science

We might finally know how the first black holes formed We might finally know how the first black holes formed

By Neel V. Patel

We may have evidence of a neutron star smashing into a black hole

Science

We may have evidence of a neutron star smashing into a black hole We may have evidence of a neutron star smashing into a black hole

By Neel V. Patel

Here’s the first-ever direct image of a black hole

Science

Here’s the first-ever direct image of a black hole Here’s the first-ever direct image of a black hole

By Neel V. Patel

a drawing of a black hole

Science

Supermassive black holes sometimes go on feeding frenzies—here’s how they know it’s time for dinner Supermassive black holes sometimes go on feeding frenzies—here’s how they know it’s time for dinner

By Neel V. Patel

a picture of space with a large circular smear of yellow light at the center

Science

An exploding space cow could be linked to a newborn black hole An exploding space cow could be linked to a newborn black hole

By Neel V. Patel

We finally know how bright the universe is

Science

We finally know how bright the universe is We finally know how bright the universe is

By Charlie Wood

Does a black hole ever die?

Science

Does a black hole ever die? Does a black hole ever die?

By Mary Beth Griggs

Astronomy’s next big discovery is probably hiding in piles of old data

Science

Astronomy’s next big discovery is probably hiding in piles of old data Astronomy’s next big discovery is probably hiding in piles of old data

By Eileen Meyer/The Conversation

Tornadoes are a little different when they happen on the sun

Science

Tornadoes are a little different when they happen on the sun Tornadoes are a little different when they happen on the sun

By Mary Beth Griggs

In his first PopSci appearance, a young Stephen Hawking explains an incredible discovery

Science

In his first PopSci appearance, a young Stephen Hawking explains an incredible discovery In his first PopSci appearance, a young Stephen Hawking explains an incredible discovery

By Peter Gwynne

Astronomers just discovered a supermassive black hole from the dawn of the universe

Science

Astronomers just discovered a supermassive black hole from the dawn of the universe Astronomers just discovered a supermassive black hole from the dawn of the universe

By Mary Beth Griggs

Science

Scientists found something surprising at the heart of these jellyfish galaxies Scientists found something surprising at the heart of these jellyfish galaxies

By Mary Beth Griggs

two black holes orbiting each other

Science

LIGO spots its third black hole merger LIGO spots its third black hole merger

By Sophie Bushwick

This Earth-size virtual telescope could take the first picture of a black hole

Science

This Earth-size virtual telescope could take the first picture of a black hole This Earth-size virtual telescope could take the first picture of a black hole

This star is orbiting insanely close to a black hole

Science

This star is orbiting insanely close to a black hole This star is orbiting insanely close to a black hole

By Rachel Feltman

Scientist Thinks He’s Proven Hawking’s Theory That Black Holes Glow

Science

Scientist Thinks He’s Proven Hawking’s Theory That Black Holes Glow Scientist Thinks He’s Proven Hawking’s Theory That Black Holes Glow

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

Science

Scientists Are Using Wormholes To Make Black Holes Less Weird Scientists Are Using Wormholes To Make Black Holes Less Weird

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

Gravitational Waves From Colliding Black Holes Detected Again

Science

Gravitational Waves From Colliding Black Holes Detected Again Gravitational Waves From Colliding Black Holes Detected Again

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

It’s Raining Frigid Gas At This Giant Black Hole

Science

It’s Raining Frigid Gas At This Giant Black Hole It’s Raining Frigid Gas At This Giant Black Hole

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

We May Soon Capture The First Real Image Of A Black Hole

Science

We May Soon Capture The First Real Image Of A Black Hole We May Soon Capture The First Real Image Of A Black Hole

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

Animation: The Black Hole Collision That Created Today’s Gravitational Wave Announcement

Science

Animation: The Black Hole Collision That Created Today’s Gravitational Wave Announcement Animation: The Black Hole Collision That Created Today’s Gravitational Wave Announcement