Sources: 
A groundbreaking study led by Michael Janssen of Radboud University Nijmegen has revealed that Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, is spinning at nearly its maximum possible speed.
This discovery was made possible by leveraging artificial intelligence trained on millions of synthetic black hole simulations, powered by high-throughput computing technology from the Center for High Throughput Computing (CHTC).
“That we are defying the prevailing theory is of course exciting,” Janssen said, highlighting how the findings challenge long-held assumptions about black hole behavior.
The research suggests that the magnetic properties of Sagittarius A* do not align with existing theoretical models, indicating new physics may be at play in the dynamics of black holes.
This breakthrough builds on previous achievements such as the Event Horizon Telescope’s imaging of the black hole in galaxy M87 in 2019 and Sagittarius A* in 2022, but adds a new dimension by quantifying the spin rate with unprecedented precision.
“Using millions of simulations and AI, astronomers discovered the Milky Way’s black hole spins near top speed,” a report noted, emphasizing the role of distributed computing innovations developed over four decades.
The findings open new avenues for understanding the complex magnetic and relativistic phenomena near black holes, potentially reshaping astrophysical theories about their formation and evolution.
As Janssen remarked, this defiance of prevailing theory is a thrilling development in black hole research, underscoring the power of AI and computational modeling in unlocking cosmic mysteries.
Sources: Astronomers using AI and millions of simulations have found that the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, spins near its maximum speed, challenging existing black hole theories. Lead researcher Michael Janssen calls this defiance of prevailing theory "exciting," revealing unexpected magnetic behaviors at the galaxy’s core.
