Astronomers have been perplexed by the existence of supermassive black holes detected during the universe’s earliest phases, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Recent findings, as detailed in a study submitted to the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, suggest these cosmic giants may have originated as primordial “seeds” during the Big Bang itself. This hypothesis could provide insights into how such enormous black holes emerged in the universe’s infancy.

Early Observations Challenge Current Theories

As per the study, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified supermassive black holes in galaxies formed shortly after the Big Bang. These black holes, which range from hundreds of thousands to billions of times the mass of the Sun, appear to have developed faster than current astrophysical models predict.

Conventionally, black holes form from the remnants of massive stars. However, the timeline observed with JWST poses challenges, as this process would require stars to form, die, and merge at an extraordinarily accelerated rate.

Primordial Black Hole Hypothesis

In the 1970s, Stephen Hawking theorised that black holes might have emerged directly from the extreme density fluctuations present during the Big Bang, rather than from stellar collapse. These “primordial” black holes, initially small, could have grown over time by accreting surrounding matter. Researchers propose that even a fraction of these primordial black holes could have reached supermassive sizes within 100 million years, aligning with JWST’s observations.

Next Steps in Research

As per a Live Space.com report, the study’s authors have recommended integrating this model into simulations of early galaxy formation. This approach could test the feasibility of primordial black holes growing alongside the first stars and galaxies. If confirmed, it would reshape our understanding of black hole development and cosmic evolution. Further observational and computational studies will be required to validate this hypothesis.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will deploy the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on December 4, 2024, using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota, as per multiple sources. The mission, designed to examine the Sun’s corona, marks a significant collaboration between India and Europe. Proba-3 will attempt precision formation flying, where two satellites will operate in tandem to create a solar coronagraph, enabling detailed studies of the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

What Proba-3 Aims to Accomplish?

Proba-3’s primary focus is the solar corona, the Sun’s outermost layer, known for its extreme temperatures reaching up to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit. This region is critical for understanding phenomena such as solar storms and winds that influence space weather and disrupt Earth-based technologies, including power grids and satellite communications.

The mission is equipped with three instruments. The ASPIICS coronagraph will simulate solar eclipses, providing an unprecedented view of the Sun’s inner and outer corona. The Digital Absolute Radiometer (DARA) will measure total solar irradiance, while the 3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DEES) will monitor electron fluxes within Earth’s radiation belts, offering valuable insights into space weather.

Why Proba-3 is Pioneering?

Proba-3 will utilise two satellites—the 200 kg Occulter Spacecraft and the 340 kg Coronagraph Spacecraft—which will align precisely to mimic an artificial eclipse. The Occulter will cast a shadow, allowing the Coronagraph to capture images of the corona uninterrupted for six hours at a time. This system surpasses the brief observation window of natural solar eclipses and is expected to yield data equivalent to 50 such events annually.

India’s Role and Benefits

The selection of ISRO for this high-profile mission underscores the reliability of its launch infrastructure. Indian solar physicists are expected to gain exclusive access to Proba-3 data, enhancing research opportunities alongside ESA’s scientists. According to reports, collaborative studies with data from India’s Aditya-L1 mission are also being planned, fostering advancements in solar physics.

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft has begun deploying its scientific instruments during its journey to Jupiter. The probe, launched on October 14, 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Centre, is set to study Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Europa is believed to possess a subsurface ocean, potentially harbouring conditions suitable for life. According to NASA, the spacecraft has travelled over 13 million miles (20 million kilometres) since its launch, moving at 35 kilometres per second relative to the Sun.

Instrument Deployment and Purpose

The spacecraft has successfully extended two major instruments, the magnetometer’s boom and several radar antennas, according to NASA reports. The magnetometer, deployed on an 8.5-metre boom, will measure Europa’s magnetic field, aiding in confirming the existence of an underground ocean while providing details about its depth and salinity.

The radar antennas, part of the Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) instrument, include four high-frequency antennas measuring 17.6 metres each and eight smaller antennas. These components are

designed to analyse Europa’s icy crust.

Jordan Evans, project manager for the Europa Clipper mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained in a statement that the deployment process is being carefully monitored to ensure the spacecraft’s instruments function as expected. Data sent back to Earth is assisting engineers in assessing the behaviour and performance of the deployed equipment, as per reports.

Upcoming Mission Milestones

NASA officials have outlined a series of gravity-assist manoeuvres planned for the spacecraft. The first of these will involve Mars in March 2025, allowing tests of some instruments and thermal imaging of the planet. Another gravity assist around Earth in December 2026 will fine-tune its trajectory toward Jupiter, calibrating instruments like the magnetometer along the way.

The spacecraft, described by NASA as the largest ever built for a planetary mission, is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030 and conduct 49 flybys of Europa starting in 2031. These flybys will gather data to help determine if the moon’s environment could support life.