Scientists I have spotted A slow-digesting black hole is taking its time with its last meal. The black hole in question was discovered during a tidal disruption event (TDE) in 2018 and is known as AT2018fyk. Based on all the readings recorded by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory as well, it seems the black hole is really enjoying its last meal.
If this all sounds a little silly to talk about, well, let’s break down some of the things we know about black holes. Typically, when a black hole absorbs a star — or any other celestial body — it does so by grabbing onto it with its gravitational pull. This pulls the object into the black hole, causing it to be digested. However, in the case of AT2018fyk, the black hole appears to be slowly taking bites of its meal as it passes by every few years.
The researchers noticed the slow-digesting black hole when a peak in brightness drew their attention back to the event sometime after the original TDE. When this happened, they started crunching the numbers, estimating that the black hole would get its meal again in August 2023. So the researchers booked time with Chandra and waited. On August 14, that waiting paid off.
While observing the black hole, the researchers noticed a significant dimming of the emission from the celestial body. This means that either the star was finally torn apart — something we will be able to confirm in a few years — or the black hole pulled more of it out.
It’s a very interesting discovery and one that continues to completely change what we know about black holes. This is not entirely surprising, as our understanding of the universe is constantly changing, especially as powerful observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope continue to peer deeper into the history of our universe.
Still, knowing that slow-digesting black holes exist is an intriguing proposition that will no doubt prompt scientists to look deeper into any future TDEs we spot. But for now, we’ll have to wait and see if AT2018fyk has finished its meal or is coming back for another bite.
