Black hole merger signal challenges existing astrophysical theories

Scientists are investigating an unusual signal detected in November 2023, identified as the gravitational wave event GW231123. The signal originated from the merger of two massive black holes with estimated masses of 100 and 140 times that of the Sun. These sizes challenge current scientific theories regarding black hole formation.

Researchers from the Albert Einstein Institute have proposed a hypothesis to explain this discrepancy. They suggest the black holes may not have been as massive as initially calculated. Instead, the signal might have been amplified by a galaxy and diffracted by an internal object through a process known as gravitational lensing. This effect can create multiple images of a single astrophysical source, potentially making the black holes appear more massive than they truly are.