Astronomers detect "Scary Barbie" supermassive black hole ripping apart huge star in "terrifying" spaghettification event
CBSN
Astronomers have detected an impressive supermassive black hole devouring a star – and they've nicknamed it "Scary Barbie," in part because of its terrifying power. Scientists called it one of the "most luminous, energetic, long-lasting transient objects" found lurking in a forgotten corner of the night sky.
Bhagya Subrayan, a Purdue University graduate student, said researchers believe the black hole "pulled in a star and ripped it apart," in a brutal process called "spaghettification." The object, documented in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, was assigned a random designation, ZTF20abrbeie, leading to the creation of its trendy nickname.
While the "outlier" death event lay undetected for years among other telescopic data, a Purdue lab's artificial intelligence engine — the Recommender Engine For Intelligent Transient Tracking (REFITT) — helped uncover the "terrifying" anomaly.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
The Department of Health and Human Services has asked some laid-off staff if they could return to work temporarily, as the department grapples with a backlog of grants that has swelled to more than a billion dollars in the wake of hurdles set up by DOGE.
After years of legal battles, state attorneys general won billions of dollars in opioid settlements from drug companies accused of fueling the addiction crisis. They declared victory at press conferences, and some touted the deals during their gubernatorial campaigns.
Emergency room visits for tick bites this year are at the highest levels since 2019, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The United States has recorded 1,288 measles cases so far this year, the highest total in 33 years, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data out Wednesday.
Underwater archaeologist James Delgado reveals the stories behind history's most haunting shipwrecks
Renowned underwater archaeologist James Delgado appeared on "CBS Mornings" on Friday to discuss his new book, "The Great Museum of the Sea," and reflect on more than 50 years of searching for historic shipwrecks around the world.
Staying hydrated is crucial to feeling your best, especially as temperatures across the globe soar. Some may turn to powdered products marketed as hydration multipliers to help.
Kraft Heinz Foods Company, the parent company of Oscar Mayer, is recalling approximately 367,812 pounds of fully cooked turkey bacon due to potential listeria, a disease-causing bacteria, according to federal officials.
Women using a certain type of hormone therapy to treat menopause symptoms could be at higher risk for breast cancer, according to a new study.
A satellite program that has historically been a key source of weather forecasting data will be discontinued by July 31, as the United States enters peak hurricane season, according to the already resource-strapped National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Can what you eat affect the way you sleep or the types of dreams you have? A recent study asked just that.
Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc. is recalling approximately 143,416 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna due to misbranding, federal health officials said Friday.