Chapter 1: Discovery of a New Class of Black Holes

In a remarkable advancement in astrophysics, scientists have pinpointed the smallest black hole ever identified, suggesting the existence of an entirely new category of these enigmatic entities. This discovery not only supports the notion that black holes can vary significantly in size but also indicates that many more types may await discovery.

"The findings we present here represent a novel approach to identifying black holes, potentially highlighting one of the first instances of a previously unknown class of low-mass black holes. The mass of these celestial objects provides insight into their formation and evolution." — Todd Thompson, lead researcher of the study.

Section 1.1: Understanding Black Holes

Black holes are regions of extreme density that consume everything in their vicinity, creating a singular point of infinite mass. These cosmic phenomena feast on stars, gas, and interstellar dust. Astronomers have long been captivated by the presence of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, including our own Milky Way, which harbors Sagittarius A*.

New black holes are continuously forming as massive stars undergo supernova explosions. During these events, most of the star's material is ejected, while the remaining core collapses into a neutron star. In some instances, these cores are so dense that they evolve into black holes.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Sizes of Black Holes

Historically, black holes have been categorized into two primary sizes: stellar-mass and supermassive. Stellar black holes typically have masses ranging from five to thirty times that of the Sun, whereas supermassive black holes can weigh millions of solar masses. The quest for even larger black holes has persisted, with notable discoveries including the quasar TON 618, which boasts a mass 66 billion times that of the Sun, and the recently found Holmberg 15A, weighing in at 40 billion solar masses. These titans are now referred to as ultramassive black holes.

Chapter 2: The Smallest Black Hole Yet

Researchers from Ohio State University have announced their finding of the smallest black hole to date, with a mass of just 3.3 solar masses. Located about 10,000 light-years away at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, this black hole spans only 12 miles (19 kilometers) in diameter.

The research team utilized data from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) to identify changes in the light emitted by stars. Out of a catalog of 100,000 stars, they focused on 200 candidates that matched their criteria. The investigation culminated in the identification of a giant red star named 2MASS J05215658+4359220, which appeared to be orbiting around an unseen object.

Further analysis using the Tillinghast Reflector Echelle Spectrograph and Gaia satellite confirmed the existence of the tiny black hole. This groundbreaking discovery reinforces the idea that black holes can vary dramatically in size, from small to supermassive and everything in between.

The first video explores the discovery of the closest and smallest black hole to Earth, named V723 Mon, also known as "The Unicorn."

The second video delves into one of the smallest known black holes, further illuminating our understanding of these fascinating cosmic objects.

The comprehensive findings of this research have been published in the Science Journal. Stay updated with vital information—subscribe to my mailing list.