Environment & Science

Scientists Shed New Light on Black Holes

Aug. 29, 2013 10:25 p.m. ET

Astronomers say they may have solved a cosmic mystery: why gravitational monsters known as black holes are inept at swallowing their prey.

A black hole can form in space when a large star dies and its matter gets crunched into a much smaller volume. The resulting gravitational pull is so great that even light can't escape. Given this power, one...

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