New research by astronomers indicates that – when two galaxies
collide in space – the collision causes the black holes at their
cores to spiral toward each other, merge, then go on a rampage
of star-eating. In other words, the galaxy and collision and
black hole merger kicks the resulting monster black hole into
surrounding stars. There, the black hole shreds and swallows
stars rapidly. This research – by Nick Stone and Avi Loeb of
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics – suggests that sky
surveys might offer astronomers a way to catch a gorging black
hole “in the act.” In the artist’s conception below, two black
holes are about to merge. When they combine, these astronomers
believe that gravitational wave radiation will “kick ” the black
hole like a rocket engine, sending it rampaging through nearby
stars. Before the merger, as the two black holes whirl around
each other, they stir the galactic center like the blade of a
blender. Their strong gravity warps space, sending out ripples
known as gravitation