Reports of massive black holes have always terrified people, especially when we hear that it's happening within our own galaxy. Some would even speculate that the end times are coming because of these mysterious entities.
Many people know that black holes typically suck in all forms of matter in space. In 1916, Albert Einstein's theory of relativity first hinted the existence of black holes. John Wheeler, an American astronomer, first used the term "black hole" in his lecture in 1967.
According to the International Business Times, scientists were able to discover four events using NASA's Wide-Field Survey Explorer telescope by measuring an infrared glow of dust. It can show how black holes feed on matter - how dust encircling them are taken in and re-emitted during the death of stars.
A team of researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China also caught a fourth black hole eating up a star during their study of the galaxy. They described the phenomenon as "tidal disruption flares" in an infrared wavelength.
Sjoert van Velzen, the lead author of a NASA study explaining the phenomenon, said in a statement "This is the first time we have clearly seen the infrared light echoes from multiple tidal disruption events". The physicist also added, "It's as though the black hole has cleaned its room by throwing flames".
NDTV also reported that the technical term for this kind of space incident is called "stellar tidal disruption events," which feature stars getting stretched and torn apart when it get near the black hole's horizon. Scientists also called it "spaghettification" or the "noodle effect" - wherein life form like stars or even light cannot escape being torn apart by the growing tidal forces.
Currently, the WISE (Wide-Field Survey Explorer) telescope serves as a useful tool for astronomers and scientist to understand and explain these kinds of event. It can also help them comprehend various mysteries surrounding black holes and can prepare people in the event our own solar system can be affected.
