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
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
