Einstein relativity may explain impossible black hole merger GW231123

September 19, 2026 at 05:00 PM1 min

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Astronomers propose a never-before-seen space-time variation to explain the anomalous black hole merger GW231123 detected by LIGO on Nov. 23, 2023. The merger, involving black holes around 2 billion light-years away, had puzzled experts for years. The proposed explanation, if correct, raises an entirely new mystery.

Key Facts

LIGO detected gravitational wave signal GW231123 on Nov. 23, 2023, from colliding black holes about 2 billion light-years from Earth.
The black hole merger had been considered 'impossible' and puzzled experts for years.
Astronomers suspect a never-before-seen variation of a space-time phenomenon could explain the merger.
If the theory is true, it creates an entirely new mystery to solve.

The Anomalous Merger

On Nov. 23, 2023, both LIGO detectors in Washington and Louisiana recorded gravitational waves from a pair of colliding black holes. The signal, designated GW231123, originated roughly 2 billion light-years from Earth. The merger's characteristics had long been considered impossible under standard astrophysical models. Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time triggered by events such as exploding stars and rapidly spinning neutron stars.

Proposed Explanation

Astronomers suspect a never-before-seen variation of a space-time phenomenon could account for the merger. The proposed mechanism relies on Einstein's theory of relativity. If confirmed, the explanation would resolve the long-standing puzzle of GW231123. However, the theory itself introduces an entirely new mystery that remains to be solved.