Entertainment
Black Hole Triple Found By Physicists Is First In History
By Brian Myers
| Published
Scientists studying a well-known black hole have made a new discovery about it, maintaining that they have found the first ever black hole triple. The V404 Cygni black hole, being one of the first black holes ever recorded when it was identified in 1992, has been the subject of thousands of papers and intensive study over the decades. However, when a team of physicists from California Tech and MIT used software that compiles data taken from multiple telescopes, they were able to make a groundbreaking discovery.
Many times, a black hole will exist as a double. The black hole will present itself in the center while a secondary object (usually a smaller star) will complete the duo. The force of the black hole’s gravity bind the two objects together in a spiralling orbital pattern that is one of the universe’s most unique symbiotic relationships.
A New Discovery
This newly discovered black hole triple shows that V404 Cygni indeed has a smaller orbiting star that circles the former star every six and a half days. But the research team noticed that a third object was in the mix, a second star that was rotating around the black hole at a much greater distance.
The black hole triple’s distant object is so far out that the physicists estimate that it will take 70,000 years for it to complete its orbit of the black hole. But the star appears to be nonetheless a part of the orbiting spiral, perhaps changing conventional thought on black holes in general.
Re-Thinking The Origin Of Black Holes
It’s for good reason that the black hole triple has scientists rethinking how these mysterious objects are formed. The origins of the black holes in our universe are widely believed to be the result of a dying star that emits a large burst of energy and light into the area in a process known as a supernova. But when this happens, the sheer amount of energy expelled from the dying star would greatly impact any nearby celestial bodies.
The researchers that discovered the black hole triple believe that the primary object wasn’t formed by a star going supernova at all. Rather, it’s thought that the star became a black hole through a process called a “direct collapse,” where the star imploded gently instead of exploding with a violent force. This would have kept the distant secondary star in its orbit around it, instead of forcing it onto a new trajectory.
Confirming The Theory
In order to confirm the theory concocted by the research team, a series of simulations were run to see if a black hole triple could be the product of a star’s gentle collapse. These simulations not only gave credence to the team’s theory, but also led them to conclude just how old the black hole might be.
The physicists noticed that the distant orbiting star is in the process of becoming a Red Giant, a stage of a star’s life where it swells with the elements just before it dies. Gathering what is known about neighboring stars and the approximate lifespan of stars in general, the researchers believe that it and the black hole that it orbits are four billion years old.
When the distant star that’s part of the black hole triple reaches the end of its life, it could well explode into a supernova, maybe changing the trajectory of the star closest to the black hole. But if it, too, has a gentle collapse, scientists in the future might well see more stars spiraling in orbit with the newly made black hole.
Sources: Eureka Alert
Entertainment
LA public schools pass screen time limits for students in a first
Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.
Titled “Using Technology with Intention,” the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.
Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.
District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.
Mashable Light Speed
The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.
“We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best,” board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday’s meeting.
“This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time…”
Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.
“Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time,” the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.
“There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation.”
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Social Good
Family & Parenting
Entertainment
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is at the lowest price weve seen all year
SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That’s a 25% discount.
$224
at Amazon
$299
Save $75
Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.
As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That’s a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon so far this year.
A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It’s both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.
Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won’t add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.
Mashable Deals
Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It’s ready for any adventure you have planned.
Entertainment
Get some new wrist candy with the CMF Watch Pro 2 at its lowest price ever
SAVE $39.01: As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s a discount of 49% and the lowest price we’ve seen.
$39.99
at Amazon
$79
Save $39.01
There are tons of smartwatches on the market if you’re in need of one. But if you’re willing to look beyond the Apple Watches or Samsung devices out there, you’ll find an awesome alternative from the Nothing brand that’ll save you some serious cash. Not only is it more affordable than the competition, but it’s got everything you could want and then some. In fact, one of the models is on sale right now.
As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s $39.01 off and a discount of 49%. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen.
This affordable smartwatch not only comes in an attractive form factor, but it has just about everything you could ask for. It has your average comms tools like Bluetooth calling and gesture control, a built-in mic and speaker, contacts, message reminders, and music control. But from there, it offers a wide range of sensors and data to help you take control of your health.
It offers a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and so much more. All of this data, including workout information, steps, and much more, can be synced across all your favorite fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Health Connect. There are 120 sports modes to choose from, GPS positioning, and even a 3D warm-up exercise guide to help get you on your feet each day.
Mashable Deals
With interchangeable watch straps and an attractive face, this extremely reasonable smartwatch is definitely one to rival Apple and Samsung. You’ll want to grab yours while it’s still down to the lowest price we’ve seen.
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