Scientists detect record-sized merger of black holes | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTom WatlingSaturday 19 July 2025 00:31 BSTMassive Black Hole Shreds Passing StarScientists have detected the largest black hole merger ever recorded by gravitational wave observatories, occurring approximately 10 billion light years from Earth.The collision involved two black holes, each over 100 times the mass of the sun, resulting in a new black hole up to 265 times more massive than the sun.The event, designated GW231123, was detected by the Ligo Hanford and Livingston Observatories in the US on November 23, 2023.Researchers noted the black holes were spinning extremely rapidly, near the limit allowed by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, posing a challenge to current scientific models.This significant discovery pushes the boundaries of gravitational-wave astronomy and will be presented at the GR-Amaldi meeting in Glasgow in July.In fullScientists measure largest ever collision of two black holesThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in