This month on Newsdesk: the sound of black holes and tackling plastic pollution.
The Sound of Black Holes
Our universe is home to some out-of-this-world phenomena. One of the strangest phenomena are black holes.
We can't actually see black holes with our own eyes, but scientists have created animations to help us understand them. A black hole is formed when a large star starts to run out of fuel and collapses in on itself, or implodes. The area where the star used to be is so dense and heavy that objects cannot escape its gravity. This means that anything nearby is sucked into it, including light itself!
Recently, a NASA scientist, Kimberly Arcand, has managed to recreate the sound of a black hole. The sound has been adjusted so that we can hear it properly, but it still sounds pretty spooky!
Tackling Plastic Pollution
Every year millions of tons of plastic enter the world's oceans. This causes serious damage to marine ecosystems.
Most plastic in the oceans is carried there by rivers. When plastic waste is dumped or washed into rivers, it flows downstream and ends up in the sea. To tackle this problem, engineers have designed a simple barrier system that can be set up in rivers to stop plastic flowing downstream.
Called a “TrashBoom,” the barrier works by suspending a metal mesh from floating pipes. Plastic floating on the water's surface is caught by the boom, and can then be collected and recycled.
Learn more about black holes by watching Twig Black Holes.
For more great topical science content, visit . Twig Science Reporter where you'll also find videos, transcripts and lesson support to accompany this article.
