Astronomers have achieved what even Einstein thought impossible and taken the first-ever image of a black hole.
Lurking at the centre of a distant galaxy named M87, the object has a mass over 6 billion times that of the sun and a gravitational field so intense not even light can escape its clutches.
Even so, astronomers have revealed its presence using a global network of telescopes that show its devastating effect on its surroundings.
The gravity of the black hole tears apart passing stars, creating a white-hot disc of debris around it. While the black hole itself remains invisible, the image shows the "ring of fire" predicted by theory.
Getting this first-ever image has pushed astronomical technology to its limit.
The supermassive black hole is as big as our solar system, but lies over 500 billion, billion kilometres away, so that as seen from Earth it is the size of a DVD on the moon.
Speaking on Wednesday, Professor Heino Falcke, of Radboud University in the Netherlands, who was involved in the experiment, described it as "an absolute monster, the heavyweight champion of black holes in the Universe".
"Although they are relatively simple objects, black holes raise some of the most complex questions about the nature of space and time, and ultimately of our existence," he told BBC News.
The announcement is the result of over a decade of work by an international team led by Shep Doeleman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics in Massachusetts.
By linking together radio telescopes from the US and Europe to Antarctica, they have have effectively created a single telescope as big as the Earth, with the ability to glimpse the presence of the black hole.
"We have achieved something presumed to be impossible just a generation ago," he said.
"Breakthroughs in technology, connections between the world's best radio observatories, and innovative algorithms all came together to open an entirely new window on black holes."
Mystery
The network is known as the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), after the region of space that surrounds the black hole. Any object falling into the event horizon cannot escape, even travelling at the speed of light.
Instead it is dragged down into the so-called singularity at the heart of the black hole.
What happens there is a complete mystery. Even Einstein’s theory of gravity – currently the best available – breaks down at the singularity.
Ironically, while Einstein himself never believed black holes could exist, his theory of general relativity has played a key role in the design of the EHT and the interpretation of today’s results.
These are about more than taking cosmic happy snaps, however. The supermassive black hole at the core of M87 gives scientists the chance to test Einstein’s theory in conditions of incredibly intense gravitational fields.
According to Dr Doeleman, preliminary measurements suggest that the image is exactly what Einstein’s theory predicts.
However, most theorists believe Einstein’s theory cannot be the last word on space, time and gravity. Any flaws it contains are likely to show up in the behaviour of black holes.
The EHT may also cast light on the mind-boggling idea that some black holes may be portals to other universes.
According the Einstein’s theory, the singularity at the heart of a black hole can sometimes turn into a “wormhole” that tunnels through space and time.
Despite being hidden inside the black hole, some theorists claim that the existence of a wormhole may reveal itself in subtle differences in the way black holes affect their surroundings.
Such effects might soon be detectable by the EHT, which is already being upgraded to make it more powerful.
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Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The Details
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Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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