Researchers have proposed a surprising new way to predict the outcome of black hole collisions using thermodynamics instead of massive supercomputer simulations.

The study suggests that merging black holes naturally evolve toward a state of maximum entropy, with gravitational waves carrying away excess energy. If confirmed, this elegant approach could simplify our understanding of black hole mergers and reveal that the laws of thermodynamics play a fundamental role in shaping spacetime itself.

Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.

This episode includes AI-generated content.