LIGO detected a record-breaking black hole merger

Scientists have detected the most massive black hole merger ever observed, resulting in a 225-solar-mass black hole, challenging existing theories. The event, named GW231123, was detected by gravitational wave detectors. The merger involved two rapidly spinning black holes, each approximately 100 and 140 times the mass of the Sun, detected during the fourth observing run of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network. This surpasses the previous record of a 140-solar-mass merger. This discovery pushes the boundaries of gravitational wave detection and forces scientists to rethink black hole formation models. The data from this event will be available for further research, furthering our understanding of the universe.