Unicorn … Small Black Hole Discovered near Earth

This artist rendering provided by NASA shows a star being swallowed by a black hole, and emitting an X-ray flare, shown in red, in the process. (NASA/Chandra X-ray Observatory/M.Weiss via AP/File)
This artist rendering provided by NASA shows a star being swallowed by a black hole, and emitting an X-ray flare, shown in red, in the process. (NASA/Chandra X-ray Observatory/M.Weiss via AP/File)
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Unicorn … Small Black Hole Discovered near Earth

This artist rendering provided by NASA shows a star being swallowed by a black hole, and emitting an X-ray flare, shown in red, in the process. (NASA/Chandra X-ray Observatory/M.Weiss via AP/File)
This artist rendering provided by NASA shows a star being swallowed by a black hole, and emitting an X-ray flare, shown in red, in the process. (NASA/Chandra X-ray Observatory/M.Weiss via AP/File)

Since a research team released the image of a newly discovered black hole on April 10, 2019, the study of this cosmic body gained much momentum, as it is the smallest black hole on record, and the closest to our planet.

Black holes are characterized with great gravity that nothing, not even particles or electromagnetic radiation like light, can escape. They usually have huge masses, larger than that of the sun. The newest discovery in this field is a black hole called "Unicorn," and it was announced on April 18, in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The researchers named it "Unicorn" because of its unique size, and because it was found in Monoceros, a relatively dim constellation that exists to the east of the Orion constellation, and to the north of Sirius star in the constellation Canis Major.

Astronomers at the Ohio State University discovered the new black hole while examining a giant star in the constellation Monoceros, using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT).

They noticed that the star's light intensity and shape shift in different spots around the orbit, suggesting that another object is tugging on the star and changing its shape. The team believed the object is likely a black hole, and estimated it is a small one.

Although the mass of some black holes is millions of times larger than the sun's, the team estimates that the mass of Unicorn is only three times that of our sun. This indicates that the newly discovered black hole is smaller than the usually discovered ones. Few black holes with such small mass had been found in the universe. Lying a mere 1,500 light-years from us, Unicorn is considered close to the Earth.



Visibility Drops in Parts of Delhi as Pollution Surges

Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024.  (EPA)
Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024. (EPA)
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Visibility Drops in Parts of Delhi as Pollution Surges

Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024.  (EPA)
Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024. (EPA)

A toxic haze enveloped India's national capital on Wednesday morning as temperatures dropped and pollution surged, reducing visibility in some parts and prompting a warning from airport authorities that flights may be affected.

Delhi overtook Pakistan's Lahore as the world's most polluted city in Swiss group IQAir's live rankings, with an air quality index (AQI) score of more than 1,000, considered "hazardous", but India's pollution authority said the AQI was around 350.

Officials were not immediately available to explain the variation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the pollution had reduced visibility to 100 meters (328 feet) in some places by around 8 a.m. (0230 GMT).

"Low visibility procedures" were initiated at the city's Indira Gandhi International Airport, operator Delhi International Airport Limited said in a post on social media platform X.

"While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected," the authority said.

CAT III is a navigation system that enables aircraft to land even when visibility is low.

The IMD said the city's temperature dropped to 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday morning from 17.9C on Tuesday, and may fall further as sunlight remains cut off due to the smog.

Delhi battles severe pollution every winter as cold, heavy air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from farm fires set off illegally in the adjoining, farming states of Punjab and Haryana.

Previously, authorities have closed schools, placed restrictions on private vehicles, and stopped some building work to curb the problem.

The city's environment minister said last week that the government was keen to use artificial rain to cut the smog.

Pakistan's Punjab province, which shares a border with India, has also banned outdoor activities, closed schools, and ordered shops, markets and malls to close early in some parts in an effort to protect its citizens from the toxic air.