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Article: Look out if black holes collide.(Astrophysics)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- June 1, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When black holes collide, look out! An enormous burst of gravitational radiation results as they violently merge into one massive black hole. The "kick" that occurs during the collision could knock the black hole clear out of its galaxy. The consequences of such an intergalactic collision are explained by David Merritt, professor of physics, Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology, in the study "Consequences of Gravitational Radiation Recoil."
Virtually all galaxies are believed to contain supermassive black holes at their centers. According to current theory, galaxies grow through mergers with other galaxies. When this occurs, the central black holes form a ...