Astronomers Uncover Mystery Behind Binary Black Hole System's Periodic 'Hiccups'

A recent study reveals that the unusual behavior observed in a distant black hole system is caused by a smaller black hole orbiting a supermassive black hole, passing through its accretion disk every 8.5 days.

• In December 2020, astronomers detected a burst of light from a galaxy 800 million light-years away, attributed to a binary black hole system.
• The 'hiccups' occur every 8.5 days when the smaller black hole collides with the accretion disk of the supermassive black hole.
• The NICER X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station played a key role in studying these cosmic phenomena.
• A tidal disruption event, involving a star being pulled apart by the supermassive black hole, provided material for the accretion disk disturbance.
• Researchers suggest such binary black hole systems could be a common occurrence across the cosmos.

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