But models that explained one or a few of the datasets didn’t work for the full sample. “It was supposed to be a short paper,” Ananna says.
Her goal was to create a model of how black holes grow and change across cosmic history. So for her Ph.D., completed in 2019, Ananna gathered surveys from four X-ray telescopes, more datasets than any previous study had used. High-energy X-rays cut through that dusty veil. Though these supermassive black holes can heat surrounding material until it glows brighter than all the galaxy’s stars combined, the light can be concealed by gas and dust also drawn in by the black hole’s pull. And she did it with the help of artificial intelligence.Īs far as astronomers can tell, nearly every galaxy stows a black hole at its center, weighing millions or billions of times the mass of the sun. She has drawn the most complete picture yet of black holes across the universe - where they are, how they grow and how they affect their environments. Tonima Tasnim Ananna is bringing the heaviest black holes out of hiding. Tonima Tasnim Ananna Alessandra Corsi Emily Fischer Prashant Jain Anna Mueller Phiala Shanahan Mikhail Shapiro Bo Wang SaraH Zanders Zhongwen Zhanīlack hole hunter seeks a cosmic census Credit: Eli Burakian/Dartmouth College Tonima Tasnim Ananna, 29įavorite black hole: Cygnus X-1 Standout research These researchers see how science benefits when people from diverse backgrounds contribute to the pursuit of answers. For instance, SaraH Zanders, one of this year’s SN 10, is unveiling the drama that unfolds when life divvies up its genetic material.Ī couple of the scientists on this year’s list have also taken steps to support people from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences.
Others are trying to grasp how weird and wonderful the natural world is - from exploring how many supermassive black holes are out there in space to understanding the minuscule genetic details that drive evolution. Some of the researchers are asking questions with huge societal importance: How do we prevent teen suicide? What are the ingredients in wildfire smoke that are damaging to health? Is there a better way to monitor earthquakes to save lives? What about finding new ways to diagnose and treat diseases? It’s in that spirit that we present this year’s SN 10: Scientists to Watch.įor the sixth consecutive year, Science News is featuring 10 early- and mid-career scientists who are pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry. Many are chasing answers to the myriad challenges that people face every day, and revealing the rewards in the pursuit of knowledge itself. Scientists have long been doing just that. In the midst of a pandemic that has brought so much worry and loss, it’s natural to want to help - to do some small part to solve a problem, to counter pain, or to, importantly, remind others that there is beauty and wonder in the world.