THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 12, 2019 Page 3 Malden resident presents fi rst-ever photo of a black hole By Barbara Taormina eople around the world were awestruck this week when scientists released the first image of a mysterious and terrifying point in the universe, a supermassive black hole 55 million light years from Earth. In Malden the extraordinary accomplishment, which many say will alter the course of astrophysics and shape our future understanding of the universe, hit a little closer to home. Sheperd Doeleman, one of the lead scientists on the project that involved a team of 200 researchers spread around the globe, is a neighbor who lives on Sprague Street. “We are delighted to be able to report to you today that we have seen what we thought was unseeable. We have seen and taken a picture of a black hole,” said Doeleman Wednesday morning during a press conference at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. A senior research fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Doeleman is also the director of Image of a black hole captured by the EHT collaboration. (Courtesy Photo) the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, a worldwide network of eight radio telescopes that together managed to capture the image of a black hole in the constellation of Virgo. As Albert Einstein and any sci-fi fan can tell you, a black hole is created when a huge amount of matter is compressed into a very small space. The result is a gravitational force so powerful that not even tiny specs of light can escape being pulled on a terrifying ride into oblivion. With a mass estimated to be four times that of the sun, black holes are said to have the power to stretch and warp spacetime. During the press conference Doeleman explained that the bright sections of the lower part of the orange ring surrounding the black circle is matter moving at light speeds, which lines up with the research team’s predictions that were based on Einstein’s theories. “We now know clearly that black holes drive large-scale structure in the universe,” said Doeleman. “As with all great discoveries, this is just the beginning,” he added. P City of Malden seeks applicants for City Clerk The City of Malden seeks candidates for the position of City Clerk. Performs all functions of the City Clerk including Clerk to the City Council, Vital Record Custodian, Chief Election Officer, and Staff and Budget Management of City Clerk Department. Ten (10) or more years of experience with parliamentary or legislative procedures, election/voter registration law, public records law, and/or vital records law. The ability to communicate effectively with the public as well as to be punctual and dependable is essential. For a full job description and details on how to apply, visit www.cityofmalden.org and click on Employment Opportunities. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma Visit our walk-in center, walk away with a new career. Encore Boston Harbor is hiring. Apply in person at our walk-in center while there’s still time. Medford Career Office | 101 Station Landing, Medford Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. In accordance with our host and surrounding community agreements, hiring preference is given to properly qualified residents of the cities of (1) Everett, (2) Malden, and (3) Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Medford, and Somerville.
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