Citizen science project recruits volunteers to search for undiscovered black holes

Scientists at the University of Southampton are recruiting volunteers for a citizen science project aimed at discovering thousands of undiscovered black holes in our galaxy. The project, called Black Hole Hunters, relies on amateur astronomers to search for signs of these elusive celestial objects. While scientists have identified around 70 black holes, they believe there could be many more hidden in our Milky Way.

Using advanced AI techniques, the researchers have prescreened millions of potential locations and narrowed down the search to a manageable number of candidates. The data used in the project is sourced from NASA's TESS telescope, which has already discovered numerous exoplanets. Black holes are notoriously difficult to detect as they do not emit light, but they often leave behind clues due to their strong gravitational pull.

This pull can bend light, creating a phenomenon called gravitational self-lensing. By identifying this effect in light curves obtained from the TESS data, volunteers can help confirm the presence of hidden black holes. Dr. Adam McMaster, a professor at Southampton's physics and astronomy department, explained that black holes are notoriously elusive because they trap light.

However, they often leave behind telltale signs, such as the bending of starlight due to their strong gravitational pull. Volunteers will examine light curves, which are graphical representations of the brightness of stars over time, to identify any unusual patterns that may indicate the presence of a black hole. The project's organizers have made it easy for volunteers to get involved by simplifying the data into clear graphs and animations.

With the help of citizen scientists, the researchers hope to make significant progress in uncovering the mysteries of our galaxy's black holes.