🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:
Response:
Calculated Shard: 78 (from laksa075)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:
Response:

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:
Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:
Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

đź“„
INDEXABLE
âś…
CRAWLED
7 days ago
🤖
ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

FilterStatusConditionDetails
HTTP statusPASSdownload_http_code = 200HTTP 200
Age cutoffPASSdownload_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH0.2 months ago
History dropPASSisNull(history_drop_reason)No drop reason
Spam/banPASSfh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0ml_spam_score=0
CanonicalPASSmeta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsedNot set

Page Details

PropertyValue
URLhttps://www.livescience.com/65207-black-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html
Last Crawled2026-04-04 14:02:45 (7 days ago)
First Indexed2019-04-11 11:05:18 (7 years ago)
HTTP Status Code200
Meta TitleHistoric First Images of a Black Hole Show Einstein Was Right (Again) | Live Science
Meta DescriptionThe first-ever images of a black hole, which the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project unveiled today (April 10), further bolster Einstein's century-old theory of general relativity.
Meta Canonicalnull
Boilerpipe Text
This image by the Event Horizon Telescope project shows the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the M87 galaxy. Albert Einstein's towering genius is on display yet again. The  first-ever images of a black hole , which the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project unveiled yesterday (April 10), further bolster Einstein's century-old theory of general relativity, researchers said. "Today, general relativity has passed another crucial test, this one spanning from horizons to the stars," EHT team member Avery Broderick, of the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada, said during a news conference today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  Article continues below Related:  What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon (and What Happens There)? General relativity  describes gravity as a consequence of the warping of space-time. Massive objects create a sort of dent or well in the cosmic fabric, which passing bodies fall into because they're following curved contours (not as a result of some mysterious force at a distance, which had been the prevailing view before Einstein came along). General relativity makes specific predictions about how this warping works. For example, the theory posits that  black holes  exist, and that each of these gravitational monsters has an event horizon — a point of no return beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape. Further, the event horizon should be roughly circular and of a predictable size, which depends on the black hole's mass. And that's just what we see in the newly unveiled EHT images, which show the silhouette of the supermassive black hole at the heart of M87, a giant elliptical galaxy that lies 55 million light-years from Earth. Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. "The shadow exists, is nearly circular and the inferred mass matches estimates due to the dynamics of stars 100,000 times farther away," Broderick said. That mass, by the way, is 6.5 billion times that of Earth's sun. That's huge even by supermassive-black-hole standards; for comparison, the behemoth at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy weighs in at a mere 4.3 million solar masses. As Broderick noted, this is not the first test that general relativity has passed; the theory has survived many challenges over the past 100 years. For example, general relativity predicts that massive, accelerating objects generate ripples in space-time called gravitational waves. In 2015, gravitational waves were  confirmed directly by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory  (LIGO), which detected the ripples created by a merger between two black holes. (These black holes weren't the supermassive type; combined, they contained just a few dozen solar masses.) So, it's not exactly a surprise that Einstein was right about event horizons as well. But confirming that general relativity holds in a hitherto unstudied realm has great value, EHT team members said. EHT's work "has verified Einstein's theories of gravity in this most extreme laboratory," EHT director Sheperd Doeleman, of Harvard University and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said during today's press conference. Images: Black Holes of the Universe What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon (and What Happens There)? 8 Baffling Astronomy Mysteries Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by   Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter  @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter    @Spacedotcom  or   Facebook .  Michael was a science writer for the Idaho National Laboratory and has been an intern at Wired.com, The Salinas Californian newspaper, and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He has also worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Markdown
![](https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p/?c1=2&c2=10055482&cv=4.4.0&cj=1) [Skip to main content](https://www.livescience.com/65207-black-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html#main) ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/dq9uu49vac1765206893.svg)Live Science Plus \- Join our community JOIN NOW 10 Member Features 24/7 Access Available 25K+ Active Members ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/ivdpgonlnu1765899656.svg) Exclusive Newsletters Science news direct to your inbox ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/ivbbltuzps1765899740.svg) Member Competitions Win exclusive prizes ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/l4luqkbsae1765899775.svg) Exclusive Content Premium articles & videos ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/pddr9vgbzk1765206727.svg) Early Access First to see new features ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/dyp0vja1zt1765206742.svg) Private Forums Connect with members ![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/lkl5g4scbi1765899580.svg) Monthly Rewards Surprise gifts & perks GET LIVE SCIENCE PLUS It's quick and easy to access Live Science Plus, simply enter your email below. We'll send you a confirmation and sign you up for our daily newsletter, keeping you up to date with the latest science news. By submitting your information you agree to the [Terms & Conditions](https://futureplc.com/future-member-terms-and-conditions/) and [Privacy Policy](https://futureplc.com/privacy-policy/) and are aged 16 or over. FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information. [Find out more](https://www.livescience.com/65207-black-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html) ![Background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mqlcl6p9ca1767779103.jpg) Welcome to Live Science Plus \! Hi , Your membership journey starts here. Keep exploring and earning more as a member. [MY ACCOUNT](https://www.livescience.com/my-account) *** ![Badge picture](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/9g8bisxmnt1764585116.png) Earn your first badge Complete 1 quiz to unlock your first badge. Keep earning badges Explore ways to get more involved as a member. ![Live Science Quizzes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/6gtg42flht1767779175.svg) Live Science Quizzes Quick, fun science challenges. [Play Now](https://www.livescience.com/quizzes) ![Science Crosswords](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/kd4wux0r8f1767779188.svg) Science Crosswords Short, brain-teasing puzzles. [Play Now](https://www.livescience.com/tag/science-crossword) *** See what you’ve unlocked. Explore your membership benefits. [Explore](https://www.livescience.com/membership) Member Exclusives Science Newsletters Select the newsletters you'd like to receive and enter your email below. [View all](https://www.livescience.com/newsletter) *** [Sign Out]() Open menu Close main menu [![Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/media/img/ls-logo-w.svg) Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/) [Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter](https://www.livescience.com/newsletter) [RSS](https://www.livescience.com/feeds.xml) Sign in - View Profile - Sign out Search - [Space](https://www.livescience.com/space) - [Health](https://www.livescience.com/health) - [Planet Earth](https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth) - [Animals](https://www.livescience.com/animals) - [Archaeology](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology) - [Physics & Math](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics) - [Technology](https://www.livescience.com/technology) - More - [Human Behavior](https://www.livescience.com/human-behavior) - [Chemistry](https://www.livescience.com/chemistry) - [Science news](https://www.livescience.com/news) - [Opinion](https://www.livescience.com/opinion) - [Life's Little Mysteries](https://www.livescience.com/tag/lifes-little-mysteries) - [Science quizzes](https://www.livescience.com/quizzes) - [Crossword](https://www.livescience.com/human-behavior/arts-entertainment/live-science-crossword-puzzle) - [About us](https://www.livescience.com/about-live-science) - [Newsletters](https://www.livescience.com/newsletter) - [Follow us](https://www.livescience.com/technology/internet/follow-live-science-on-social-media) - [Story archive](https://www.livescience.com/archive) Don't miss these [![A glistening field of stars against a black background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHHTMkHn4Fakbn862aLyyE.jpg) Space Rare star spotted in its original galaxy could answer a key question about the ingredients of life: Space photo of the week](https://www.livescience.com/space/rare-star-spotted-in-its-original-galaxy-could-answer-a-key-question-about-the-ingredients-of-life-space-photo-of-the-week "Rare star spotted in its original galaxy could answer a key question about the ingredients of life: Space photo of the week ") [![An illustration of a magnetar with a wobbling accretion disk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZCRSYTAW3Cszx8vCqsYP4G.jpg) Astronomy Scientists witness birth of one of the universe's strongest magnets for the first time, thanks to a general relativity 'magic trick'](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/scientists-witness-birth-of-one-of-the-universes-strongest-magnets-for-the-first-time-thanks-to-a-general-relativity-magic-trick "Scientists witness birth of one of the universe's strongest magnets for the first time, thanks to a general relativity 'magic trick'") [![A view of the Cat\&\#039;s Eye Nebula, a blue ball of light surrounded by purple and red gas in a starry night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WAYzDArwsMHVPWqUAajXEm.jpg) Space Hubble and Euclid capture the final act of a dying star — and it's glorious: Space photo of the week](https://www.livescience.com/space/hubble-and-euclid-capture-the-final-act-of-a-dying-star-and-its-glorious-space-photo-of-the-week "Hubble and Euclid capture the final act of a dying star — and it's glorious: Space photo of the week") [![A composite image showing the small gray sphere of the moon across a dark night sky as it reaches various phases of a lunar eclipse. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U43hAxwQajvf4oUrYPppAf.jpg) Space Can you see Earth's shadow?](https://www.livescience.com/space/can-you-see-earths-shadow "Can you see Earth's shadow?") [![Science news this week Jan. 24, 2026](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HP9vyS9t2NKTgvk6o3hkVW.jpg) Archaeology World's oldest rock art, giant reservoir found beneath the East Coast seafloor, black hole revelations, and a record solar radiation storm](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/science-news-this-week-the-worlds-oldest-rock-art-giant-freshwater-reservoir-found-off-the-east-coast-and-the-biggest-solar-radiation-storm-in-decades "World's oldest rock art, giant reservoir found beneath the East Coast seafloor, black hole revelations, and a record solar radiation storm") [![Hundreds of gold and orange clouds with feathered trails going down behind them. The small clouds are covering a few scattered, bright stars. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CCYacGost7pcUzqbKsHisG.jpg) Astronomy James Webb telescope peers into 'Eye of God' and finds clues to life's origins — Space photo of the week](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/james-webb-telescope-peers-into-eye-of-god-and-finds-clues-to-lifes-origins-space-photo-of-the-week "James Webb telescope peers into 'Eye of God' and finds clues to life's origins — Space photo of the week") [![An illustration of a black hole churning spacetime around it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R8hjeA8bm8pvoRTkN7tqoj.jpg) Black Holes Exotic prime numbers could be hiding inside black holes](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/exotic-prime-numbers-could-be-hiding-inside-black-holes "Exotic prime numbers could be hiding inside black holes") [![A gif showing two dark lines parallel to each other moving circularly from bottom left to top right around two dark blurry circles in the center of the image](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ndHMvnwEE5zVJcZrrFSn5.gif) Particle Physics Scientists taught robots to swim through mazes using Einstein's relativity](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/particle-physics/these-tiny-swimming-robots-can-navigate-artificial-space-time-mazes-using-einsteins-relativity "Scientists taught robots to swim through mazes using Einstein's relativity") [![An illustration of two planets colliding to the right of a glowing ball of orange gas, their home star. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NmUeaDwQXS8dGCwnsUJ5HQ.jpg) Space Exceptionally rare sighting of planets colliding may shed light on the crash that formed the moon](https://www.livescience.com/space/exceptionally-rare-sighting-of-planets-colliding-may-shed-light-on-the-crash-that-formed-the-moon "Exceptionally rare sighting of planets colliding may shed light on the crash that formed the moon") [![An illustration of the Milky Way galaxy with white orbital lines showing sun-like stars migrating across its area](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e98k5U3v2a3ix557G2hJWD.jpg) Space A 'mass migration' of stars from the Milky Way's center could explain why there's life in our solar system](https://www.livescience.com/space/a-mass-migration-of-stars-from-the-milky-ways-center-could-explain-why-theres-life-in-our-solar-system "A 'mass migration' of stars from the Milky Way's center could explain why there's life in our solar system") [![A starry background, with a box showing a yellow smudge of an ancient galaxy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cd2TemxEkGoHam2PYzQVLg.jpg) Astronomy James Webb telescope breaks own record, discovering farthest known galaxy in the universe](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/previously-unimaginable-james-webb-telescope-breaks-own-record-again-discovering-farthest-known-galaxy-in-the-universe "James Webb telescope breaks own record, discovering farthest known galaxy in the universe") [![A black hole and a neutron star, both black spheres with one having an orange series of circles around them circle each other against a starry background. The neutron star’s path is shown in blue with larger circles and the black hole’s motion in orange as the two objects orbit each other.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FbYeRuantKZsRJ8acakex.jpg) Black Holes Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/universe-shaking-collision-of-black-hole-and-neutron-star-could-upend-our-understanding-of-monster-cosmic-mergers "Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers") [![A star blowing a purple, wedge-shaped bubble in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zwKdyyQKTwoGi8g6GSwb9Y.jpg) Astronomy NASA telescope spots first alien 'astrosphere' around a sun-like star: Space photo of the week](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/nasa-telescope-spots-first-alien-astrosphere-around-a-sun-like-star-space-photo-of-the-week "NASA telescope spots first alien 'astrosphere' around a sun-like star: Space photo of the week") [![An illustration of a star collapsing into a black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fh9Psvca9EPcoHRhCgHTq.jpg) Black Holes Impossibly powerful 'ghost particle' that hit Earth may have come from an exploding black hole](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/impossibly-powerful-ghost-particle-that-slammed-into-earth-may-have-come-from-an-exploding-black-hole-and-it-could-upend-both-particle-physics-and-cosmology "Impossibly powerful 'ghost particle' that hit Earth may have come from an exploding black hole ") [![A colorful image shows a opalescent sphere carving a streak through a rainbow colored surface, kicking up white streaks behind it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H3KRboAeyuhUpxfSPk3JNF.jpg) Particle Physics Physicists recreated the first millisecond after the Big Bang — and found it was surprisingly soupy](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/particle-physics/physicists-recreated-the-first-millisecond-after-the-big-bang-and-found-it-was-surprisingly-soupy "Physicists recreated the first millisecond after the Big Bang — and found it was surprisingly soupy") Trending - [Astronauts struggle to reproduce in space](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronauts-may-struggle-to-reproduce-in-outer-space-study-suggests-what-does-that-mean-for-the-future-of-space-colonization) - [Fossil ape found in Egypt](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/human-evolution/18-million-year-old-fossils-of-ape-found-in-africa-but-in-an-unexpected-place) - [Meteorite crashes through roof](https://www.livescience.com/space/meteoroids/cannonball-size-meteorite-crashes-through-roof-of-texas-home-as-multiple-fireballs-rain-down-on-the-us) - [Amazon stargazing equipment deals](https://www.livescience.com/products/optics/amazon-spring-sale-2026-stargazing-deals-on-telescopes-cameras-and-binoculars) 1. [Space](https://www.livescience.com/space) 2. [Astronomy](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy) 3. [Black Holes](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/black-holes) [![Space.com](https://www.livescience.com/media/img/partners/space_com.png)](https://www.space.com/) # Historic First Images of a Black Hole Show Einstein Was Right (Again) [News](https://www.livescience.com/news) By [Mike Wall](https://www.livescience.com/author/mike-wall) published April 11, 2019 When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https://www.livescience.com/about-live-science#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure). Share - Copy link - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fblack-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html) - [X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Historic+First+Images+of+a+Black+Hole+Show+Einstein+Was+Right+%28Again%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fblack-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html) - [Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Historic+First+Images+of+a+Black+Hole+Show+Einstein+Was+Right+%28Again%29+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fblack-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html?fwa) - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fblack-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html&title=Historic+First+Images+of+a+Black+Hole+Show+Einstein+Was+Right+%28Again%29) - [Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fblack-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html&media=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net%2FabJKapUnZncYY55isZ69Ai.jpg) - [Flipboard](https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?title=Historic+First+Images+of+a+Black+Hole+Show+Einstein+Was+Right+%28Again%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fblack-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html) - [Email](mailto:?subject=I%20found%20this%20webpage&body=Hi,%20I%20found%20this%20webpage%20and%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20it%20https://www.space.com/black-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html) Share this article Join the conversation [Follow us](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=livescience.com) Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. *** By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful *** Want to add more newsletters? ![Daily Newsletter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/faFLbXaTyahFZDTeFefhN9.jpg) Delivered Daily Daily Newsletter Sign up for the latest discoveries, groundbreaking research and fascinating breakthroughs that impact you and the wider world direct to your inbox. Subscribe + ![Life\&\#039;s Little Mysteries](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vikzz54ZHkr7YdtP8LSvth.jpg) Once a week Life's Little Mysteries Feed your curiosity with an exclusive mystery every week, solved with science and delivered direct to your inbox before it's seen anywhere else. Subscribe + ![How It Works](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uxBe4KqdApV4yBveZpXaRn.jpg) Once a week How It Works Sign up to our free science & technology newsletter for your weekly fix of fascinating articles, quick quizzes, amazing images, and more Subscribe + ![Space.com Newsletter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vfpcxVDrtfCysGSjzYjeSg.png) Delivered daily Space.com Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! Subscribe + ![Watch This Space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tjzmFi262iKuxrcCtSghKg.jpg) Once a month Watch This Space Sign up to our monthly entertainment newsletter to keep up with all our coverage of the latest sci-fi and space movies, tv shows, games and books. Subscribe + ![Night Sky This Week](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qsHaEcQ6H695rhBoNZdK5g.jpg) Once a week Night Sky This Week Discover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos. Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us\! Subscribe + *** Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. [Explore](https://www.livescience.com/membership) *** An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter ![This image by the Event Horizon Telescope project shows the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the M87 galaxy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NETHv2F9UZUe7xabGjpw3N.jpg) This image by the Event Horizon Telescope project shows the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the M87 galaxy. Albert Einstein's towering genius is on display yet again. The [first-ever images of a black hole](https://www.space.com/first-black-hole-photo-by-event-horizon-telescope.html), which the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project unveiled yesterday (April 10), further bolster Einstein's century-old theory of general relativity, researchers said. "Today, general relativity has passed another crucial test, this one spanning from horizons to the stars," EHT team member Avery Broderick, of the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada, said during a news conference today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Article continues below You may like - [![An animation of two black holes merging](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CCjVAaAcbDLbVsWARWWGoh.gif) Record-breaking gravitational wave puts Einstein's relativity to its toughest test yet — and proves him right again](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/record-breaking-gravitational-wave-puts-einsteins-relativity-to-its-toughest-test-yet-and-proves-him-right-again) - [![A Hubble image of a spiral galaxy on a starry background, with a boxout showing a James Webb telescope image of the gas and dust swirling around the galaxy\&\#039;s central black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aYZfbDnm9Nyhvrq4nhVoPJ.jpg) James Webb telescope reveals sharpest-ever look at the edge of a supermassive black hole](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/james-webb-telescope-reveals-sharpest-ever-look-at-the-edge-of-a-black-hole-and-it-could-solve-a-major-galactic-mystery) - [![A black hole and a neutron star, both black spheres with one having an orange series of circles around them circle each other against a starry background. The neutron star’s path is shown in blue with larger circles and the black hole’s motion in orange as the two objects orbit each other.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FbYeRuantKZsRJ8acakex.jpg) Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/universe-shaking-collision-of-black-hole-and-neutron-star-could-upend-our-understanding-of-monster-cosmic-mergers) **Related:** [**What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon (and What Happens There)?**](https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) [General relativity](https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html) describes gravity as a consequence of the warping of space-time. Massive objects create a sort of dent or well in the cosmic fabric, which passing bodies fall into because they're following curved contours (not as a result of some mysterious force at a distance, which had been the prevailing view before Einstein came along). General relativity makes specific predictions about how this warping works. For example, the theory posits that [black holes](https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html) exist, and that each of these gravitational monsters has an event horizon — a point of no return beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape. Further, the event horizon should be roughly circular and of a predictable size, which depends on the black hole's mass. And that's just what we see in the newly unveiled EHT images, which show the silhouette of the supermassive black hole at the heart of M87, a giant elliptical galaxy that lies 55 million light-years from Earth. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. "The shadow exists, is nearly circular and the inferred mass matches estimates due to the dynamics of stars 100,000 times farther away," Broderick said. That mass, by the way, is 6.5 billion times that of Earth's sun. That's huge even by supermassive-black-hole standards; for comparison, the behemoth at the heart of our [Milky Way](https://www.livescience.com/tag/milky-way) galaxy weighs in at a mere 4.3 million solar masses. As Broderick noted, this is not the first test that general relativity has passed; the theory has survived many challenges over the past 100 years. What to read next - [![An illustration showing a spiral galaxy on the left of the image and a swirl of gas and stars on the right connected by a triangle of red laser light](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yoXLTnrhJgY8VHtNFj2hnG.jpg) 'Collective hum' of black holes could settle the debate over new physics](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/collective-hum-of-black-holes-could-mend-our-broken-understanding-of-the-universe-physicists-say) - [![An illustration of a star collapsing into a black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fh9Psvca9EPcoHRhCgHTq.jpg) Impossibly powerful 'ghost particle' that hit Earth may have come from an exploding black hole](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/impossibly-powerful-ghost-particle-that-slammed-into-earth-may-have-come-from-an-exploding-black-hole-and-it-could-upend-both-particle-physics-and-cosmology) - [![An image showing a metal radio antenna to the left under a glowing band of the Milky Way in the night sky with a circle cutout to the right of the image showing an illustration of a black sphere surrounded by glowing gas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WF67c74xkDjjgWqn3sW47V.jpg) Radio signal discovered at the center of our galaxy could put Einstein's relativity to the test](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/radio-signal-discovered-at-the-center-of-our-galaxy-could-put-einsteins-relativity-to-the-test) For example, general relativity predicts that massive, accelerating objects generate ripples in space-time called gravitational waves. In 2015, gravitational waves were [confirmed directly by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory](https://www.space.com/31894-gravitational-waves-ligo-search-complete-coverage.html) (LIGO), which detected the ripples created by a merger between two black holes. (These black holes weren't the supermassive type; combined, they contained just a few dozen solar masses.) So, it's not exactly a surprise that Einstein was right about event horizons as well. But confirming that general relativity holds in a hitherto unstudied realm has great value, EHT team members said. EHT's work "has verified Einstein's theories of gravity in this most extreme laboratory," EHT director Sheperd Doeleman, of Harvard University and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said during today's press conference. - [Images: Black Holes of the Universe](https://www.space.com/31-black-holes-universe.html) - [What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon (and What Happens There)?](https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) - [8 Baffling Astronomy Mysteries](https://www.space.com/15936-astronomy-mysteries-science-countdown.html) *Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "*[*Out There*](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FOut-There-Scientific-Antimatter-Cosmically%2Fdp%2F1538729377%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dlivescience-us-7362350739106929279-20)*" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by* [*Karl Tate*](http://www.karltate.com/)*), is out now. Follow him on Twitter* [*@michaeldwall*](http://twitter.com/michaeldwall)*. Follow us on Twitter* [*@Spacedotcom*](http://twitter.com/spacedotcom) *or* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/spacecom)*.* ![Mike Wall](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pghMM8ETJJ6ybTfsja4CDZ.jpg) [Mike Wall](https://www.livescience.com/author/mike-wall) Social Links Navigation Space.com Senior Writer Michael was a science writer for the Idaho National Laboratory and has been an intern at Wired.com, The Salinas Californian newspaper, and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He has also worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Read more [![An animation of two black holes merging](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CCjVAaAcbDLbVsWARWWGoh.gif) Physics & Mathematics Record-breaking gravitational wave puts Einstein's relativity to its toughest test yet — and proves him right again](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/record-breaking-gravitational-wave-puts-einsteins-relativity-to-its-toughest-test-yet-and-proves-him-right-again "Record-breaking gravitational wave puts Einstein's relativity to its toughest test yet — and proves him right again") [![A Hubble image of a spiral galaxy on a starry background, with a boxout showing a James Webb telescope image of the gas and dust swirling around the galaxy\&\#039;s central black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aYZfbDnm9Nyhvrq4nhVoPJ.jpg) Astronomy James Webb telescope reveals sharpest-ever look at the edge of a supermassive black hole](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/james-webb-telescope-reveals-sharpest-ever-look-at-the-edge-of-a-black-hole-and-it-could-solve-a-major-galactic-mystery "James Webb telescope reveals sharpest-ever look at the edge of a supermassive black hole") [![A black hole and a neutron star, both black spheres with one having an orange series of circles around them circle each other against a starry background. The neutron star’s path is shown in blue with larger circles and the black hole’s motion in orange as the two objects orbit each other.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FbYeRuantKZsRJ8acakex.jpg) Black Holes Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/universe-shaking-collision-of-black-hole-and-neutron-star-could-upend-our-understanding-of-monster-cosmic-mergers "Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers") [![An illustration showing a spiral galaxy on the left of the image and a swirl of gas and stars on the right connected by a triangle of red laser light](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yoXLTnrhJgY8VHtNFj2hnG.jpg) Physics & Mathematics 'Collective hum' of black holes could settle the debate over new physics](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/collective-hum-of-black-holes-could-mend-our-broken-understanding-of-the-universe-physicists-say "'Collective hum' of black holes could settle the debate over new physics") [![An illustration of a star collapsing into a black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fh9Psvca9EPcoHRhCgHTq.jpg) Black Holes Impossibly powerful 'ghost particle' that hit Earth may have come from an exploding black hole](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/impossibly-powerful-ghost-particle-that-slammed-into-earth-may-have-come-from-an-exploding-black-hole-and-it-could-upend-both-particle-physics-and-cosmology "Impossibly powerful 'ghost particle' that hit Earth may have come from an exploding black hole ") [![An image showing a metal radio antenna to the left under a glowing band of the Milky Way in the night sky with a circle cutout to the right of the image showing an illustration of a black sphere surrounded by glowing gas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WF67c74xkDjjgWqn3sW47V.jpg) Astronomy Radio signal discovered at the center of our galaxy could put Einstein's relativity to the test](https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/radio-signal-discovered-at-the-center-of-our-galaxy-could-put-einsteins-relativity-to-the-test "Radio signal discovered at the center of our galaxy could put Einstein's relativity to the test") Latest in Black Holes [![A black hole and a neutron star, both black spheres with one having an orange series of circles around them circle each other against a starry background. The neutron star’s path is shown in blue with larger circles and the black hole’s motion in orange as the two objects orbit each other.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FbYeRuantKZsRJ8acakex.jpg) Black Holes Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/universe-shaking-collision-of-black-hole-and-neutron-star-could-upend-our-understanding-of-monster-cosmic-mergers "Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergers") [![An illustration of a black hole churning spacetime around it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R8hjeA8bm8pvoRTkN7tqoj.jpg) Black Holes Exotic prime numbers could be hiding inside black holes](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/exotic-prime-numbers-could-be-hiding-inside-black-holes "Exotic prime numbers could be hiding inside black holes") [![An artist\&\#039;s illustration of a black hole in yellow, blue and pink light](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gh5myp5cAkTWuVaMQZe2Se.jpg) Black Holes Science history: Stephen Hawking writes a tiny paper — and turns our understanding of black holes inside out — March 1, 1974](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/science-history-stephen-hawking-writes-a-tiny-paper-and-turns-our-understanding-of-black-holes-inside-out-march-1-1974 "Science history: Stephen Hawking writes a tiny paper — and turns our understanding of black holes inside out — March 1, 1974") [![Image of disk-galaxy Andromeda taken by Hubble space telescope](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V4WbF5byP7ophMJNLVwMPG.jpg) Black Holes Scientists may have seen a star collapse directly into a black hole without exploding first](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/scientists-may-have-seen-a-star-collapse-directly-into-a-black-hole-without-exploding-first "Scientists may have seen a star collapse directly into a black hole without exploding first") [![An artist\&\#039;s rendition highlighting the pale, conical swirls that manifest as a corona above the black hole\&\#039;s accretion disk.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdHgnccQHo6tE658ycymMJ.jpg) Black Holes Scientists spot 'rule-breaking' black hole growing 13 times faster than should be possible](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/rule-breaking-black-hole-found-growing-at-13-times-the-cosmic-speed-limit-challenging-theories "Scientists spot 'rule-breaking' black hole growing 13 times faster than should be possible") [![A deep space image showing the white gas and stars forming two spiral galaxies next to each other, stretching from the bottom right to top left of the image. ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TqnzXFxPWb6BUNr5tGFiqH.jpg) Black Holes The earliest black holes in the universe may still be with us, surprising study claims](https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/the-earliest-black-holes-in-the-universe-may-still-be-with-us-surprising-study-claims "The earliest black holes in the universe may still be with us, surprising study claims") Latest in News [![A man wearing a white spacesuit is accompanied by two people wearing black jumpsuits.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TecSR9sScQa5g46TDyZ2on.jpg) Space Exploration Mystery medical episode that left astronaut unable to speak shows one of NASA's biggest risks as moon missions ramp up](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/mystery-medical-episode-that-left-astronaut-unable-to-speak-shows-one-of-nasas-biggest-risks-as-moon-missions-ramp-up "Mystery medical episode that left astronaut unable to speak shows one of NASA's biggest risks as moon missions ramp up") [![A close up shows a white rat with a brown head holding onto a small thread in front of a blue background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UjwfxTKpF8DkSFLbkrW3dC.jpg) Food & Drink A gut microbe linked to the Mediterranean diet boosts muscle strength in mice](https://www.livescience.com/health/food-drink/a-gut-microbe-linked-to-the-mediterranean-diet-boosts-muscle-strength-in-mice "A gut microbe linked to the Mediterranean diet boosts muscle strength in mice") [![A rocket stands in front of a sunset and azure waters are seen from the sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uT2Nv6bV8h3P4LoRxJMmbA.jpg) Space NASA announces moon base, Iran war releases staggering carbon, why weed gives people munchies, and Artemis II preps for liftoff.](https://www.livescience.com/science-news-this-week-nasa-announces-nuclear-rocket-space-reproduction-proves-difficult-and-why-weed-gives-you-the-munchies "NASA announces moon base, Iran war releases staggering carbon, why weed gives people munchies, and Artemis II preps for liftoff.") [![Sperm whales gather for the birth of a calf.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R4VnJSV6rNrckhx3ZeR2ZR.jpg) Animals Live Science Today: Jaw-dropping first glimpse of sperm whale birth and how NASA is turning astronauts into test subjects](https://www.livescience.com/live-science-today-jaw-dropping-first-glimpse-of-sperm-whale-birth-and-how-nasa-is-turning-astronauts-into-test-subjects "Live Science Today: Jaw-dropping first glimpse of sperm whale birth and how NASA is turning astronauts into test subjects") [![A view looking from inside a dark cave through an opening where a lush green jungle lies beyond.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ppt2BppAVpnQAiSqvKFwuf.jpg) Neanderthals 'Major disruption in Neanderthal history': 65,000 years ago, all Neanderthals in Europe died out except for one lineage](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/neanderthals/major-disruption-in-neanderthal-history-65-000-years-ago-all-neanderthals-in-europe-died-out-except-for-one-lineage "'Major disruption in Neanderthal history': 65,000 years ago, all Neanderthals in Europe died out except for one lineage") [![A close up of a small, cylindrical, yellowish bone with a hollow middle sitting on a shiny surface with a centimeter ruler next to it.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m67LJCThv4ZKv5VSBQEueh.jpg) Neanderthals 2 Neanderthals present at same Siberian cave 10,000 years apart were distant relatives, 110,000-year-old bone reveals](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/neanderthals/2-neanderthals-present-at-same-siberian-cave-10-000-years-apart-were-distant-relatives-110-000-year-old-bone-reveals "2 Neanderthals present at same Siberian cave 10,000 years apart were distant relatives, 110,000-year-old bone reveals") LATEST ARTICLES 1. [![a picture of the Eufy P3 Smart Scale, a pair of running shoes and a pair of dumbbells ](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fXbQWFuQXZyqQR7oj4XTNc.jpg)](https://www.livescience.com/products/health-fitness/top-5-health-and-fitness-products-to-buy-during-spring-sales "Top 5 health and fitness products to buy during spring sales (and 2 to skip)") 1 [Top 5 health and fitness products to buy during spring sales (and 2 to skip)](https://www.livescience.com/products/health-fitness/top-5-health-and-fitness-products-to-buy-during-spring-sales) 2. 2 [A gut microbe linked to the Mediterranean diet boosts muscle strength in mice](https://www.livescience.com/health/food-drink/a-gut-microbe-linked-to-the-mediterranean-diet-boosts-muscle-strength-in-mice) 3. 3 [NASA announces moon base, Iran war releases staggering carbon, why weed gives people munchies, and Artemis II preps for liftoff.](https://www.livescience.com/science-news-this-week-nasa-announces-nuclear-rocket-space-reproduction-proves-difficult-and-why-weed-gives-you-the-munchies) 4. 4 [How to catch the full 'Pink Moon' in April followed by a 'Blue Moon' in May](https://www.livescience.com/space/the-moon/how-to-catch-the-full-pink-moon-in-april-followed-by-a-blue-moon-in-may) 5. 5 [Why does cannabis give people 'the munchies'?](https://www.livescience.com/health/why-does-cannabis-give-people-the-munchies) Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. [Visit our corporate site](https://futureplc.com/). [![Add as a preferred source on Google](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mednnv697g1760357120.png) Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=livescience.com) - [About Us](https://www.livescience.com/about-live-science) - [Contact Future's experts](https://futureplc.com/contact/) - [Terms and conditions](https://futureplc.com/terms-conditions/) - [Privacy policy](https://futureplc.com/privacy-policy/) - [Cookies policy](https://futureplc.com/cookies-policy/) - [Accessibility Statement](https://futureplc.com/accessibility-statement/) - [Advertise with us](https://go.future-advertising.com/Live-Science-Media-Kit.html) - [Web notifications](https://www.livescience.com/how-to-turn-off-web-notifications-for-chrome-macos.html) - [Careers](https://futureplc.com/careers/) - [Editorial standards](https://www.livescience.com/editorial-standards) - [How to pitch a story to us](https://www.livescience.com/how-to-pitch-live-science) - [Do not sell or share my personal information](https://www.livescience.com/privacy-portal) © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Close Please login or signup to comment Please wait... Login Sign Up
Readable Markdown
![This image by the Event Horizon Telescope project shows the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the M87 galaxy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NETHv2F9UZUe7xabGjpw3N.jpg) This image by the Event Horizon Telescope project shows the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the M87 galaxy. Albert Einstein's towering genius is on display yet again. The [first-ever images of a black hole](https://www.space.com/first-black-hole-photo-by-event-horizon-telescope.html), which the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project unveiled yesterday (April 10), further bolster Einstein's century-old theory of general relativity, researchers said. "Today, general relativity has passed another crucial test, this one spanning from horizons to the stars," EHT team member Avery Broderick, of the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada, said during a news conference today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Article continues below **Related:** [**What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon (and What Happens There)?**](https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) [General relativity](https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html) describes gravity as a consequence of the warping of space-time. Massive objects create a sort of dent or well in the cosmic fabric, which passing bodies fall into because they're following curved contours (not as a result of some mysterious force at a distance, which had been the prevailing view before Einstein came along). General relativity makes specific predictions about how this warping works. For example, the theory posits that [black holes](https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html) exist, and that each of these gravitational monsters has an event horizon — a point of no return beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape. Further, the event horizon should be roughly circular and of a predictable size, which depends on the black hole's mass. And that's just what we see in the newly unveiled EHT images, which show the silhouette of the supermassive black hole at the heart of M87, a giant elliptical galaxy that lies 55 million light-years from Earth. Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. "The shadow exists, is nearly circular and the inferred mass matches estimates due to the dynamics of stars 100,000 times farther away," Broderick said. That mass, by the way, is 6.5 billion times that of Earth's sun. That's huge even by supermassive-black-hole standards; for comparison, the behemoth at the heart of our [Milky Way](https://www.livescience.com/tag/milky-way) galaxy weighs in at a mere 4.3 million solar masses. As Broderick noted, this is not the first test that general relativity has passed; the theory has survived many challenges over the past 100 years. For example, general relativity predicts that massive, accelerating objects generate ripples in space-time called gravitational waves. In 2015, gravitational waves were [confirmed directly by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory](https://www.space.com/31894-gravitational-waves-ligo-search-complete-coverage.html) (LIGO), which detected the ripples created by a merger between two black holes. (These black holes weren't the supermassive type; combined, they contained just a few dozen solar masses.) So, it's not exactly a surprise that Einstein was right about event horizons as well. But confirming that general relativity holds in a hitherto unstudied realm has great value, EHT team members said. EHT's work "has verified Einstein's theories of gravity in this most extreme laboratory," EHT director Sheperd Doeleman, of Harvard University and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said during today's press conference. - [Images: Black Holes of the Universe](https://www.space.com/31-black-holes-universe.html) - [What Exactly Is a Black Hole Event Horizon (and What Happens There)?](https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) - [8 Baffling Astronomy Mysteries](https://www.space.com/15936-astronomy-mysteries-science-countdown.html) *Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "*[*Out There*](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FOut-There-Scientific-Antimatter-Cosmically%2Fdp%2F1538729377%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dlivescience-us-7362350739106929279-20)*" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by* [*Karl Tate*](http://www.karltate.com/)*), is out now. Follow him on Twitter* [*@michaeldwall*](http://twitter.com/michaeldwall)*. Follow us on Twitter* [*@Spacedotcom*](http://twitter.com/spacedotcom) *or* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/spacecom)*.* Michael was a science writer for the Idaho National Laboratory and has been an intern at Wired.com, The Salinas Californian newspaper, and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He has also worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Shard78 (laksa)
Root Hash4110033003681956278
Unparsed URLcom,livescience!www,/65207-black-hole-event-horizon-images-einstein.html s443