A new study led by University of Alberta researchers suggests there are at least 26,000 — and possibly millions — of black holes in the Milky Way galaxy, significantly more than previously thought. “The study that they’ve done opens up the possibility of detecting many of the hidden black holes, and by trying to determine how many black holes are out there, it tells us something about the past history of our galaxy,” he said. Arnason was a master’s student studying astrophysics at the University of Alberta when the black hole was discovered. Gravity draws material from those companion stars towards the black hole, which can then “eat” material nearby. A quiet black hole feeds less and gives off smaller amounts of X-rays, making it more difficult to discover.

Source: National Post July 04, 2016 15:33 UTC