Read, Watch or Listen

Astronomers using the LIGO observatory have detected a black hole collision with unprecedented detail. The event, GW250114, involved two black holes merging to form one 63 times the sun's mass. This highly precise observation confirms predictions by Einstein and Hawking, notably Kerr's equation describing black holes with just mass and rotation, and Hawking's theorem on the increasing surface area of merging black holes. The improved LIGO instruments allowed for clearer detection of the 'ringing' of the merged black hole, providing strong evidence for these fundamental theories of gravity.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.