The Astonishing Count of Black Holes in Our Universe: A Closer Look

The study of black holes remains one of the most intriguing and challenging areas of astrophysics, with each new discovery bringing us closer to understanding the most mysterious phenomena in the universe. Recently, a team of researchers from the Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) in Trieste has shed new light on the number of black holes that have been detected so far.

According to their latest findings, the universe currently hosts an astounding 40 billion billion black holes. This updated estimate challenges our previous understanding and opens up a new realm of possibilities for further research. The findings were published in a recent paper, which revealed that the total mass of these stellar black holes amounts to less than 1% of the local baryonic matter.

Understanding Stellar Black Holes

Stellar black holes are among the most fascinating and widely studied types of black holes. They form when a single or binary star, typically with a mass around three to a few hundred times that of our Sun, reaches the end of its life and undergoes violent collapse, ultimately leading to the formation of a black hole. This phenomenon is a prime example of how gravity can overpower other forces and create some of the most extreme objects in the universe.

How the Number Was Calculated

To arrive at this impressive number, the researchers utilized a complex computational model. They integrated the redshift of the black hole cosmic birthrate to obtain the stellar black hole relic mass function. This process involved multiple steps and required detailed calculations.

Step-by-Step Calculation

The team's calculations relied on the following steps:

Integration over redshift of the BH cosmic birthrate Convolution of the galactic and stellar terms Computation of the galactic term using the sum of the galaxy statistics based on the star formation rate (SFR) function, metallicity distribution, and stellar mass distribution Computation of the stellar term using a stellar and binary evolution code

The final results reflect a comprehensive and meticulous approach to understanding the distribution and mass of black holes in the universe.

Promising Future Research

The researchers are confident that their work is just the beginning. They have promised to delve deeper into the mysteries of black holes in the future, providing us with even more insights into these enigmatic objects.

Stay tuned for more updates as the field of astrophysics continues to evolve and expand our understanding of the cosmos.