A million dollars for black hole scientists

The team of 347 scientists, which produced the first black hole photo in April, won Thursday the US Breakthrough Prize, with a $ 3 million equivalent of the Oscar in Science.

The international "Event Horizon Telescope" team, led by the American astronomer Shipp Dolman of the Institute of Astrophysics, Harvard-Smithsonian, made headlines around the world on April 10 with the publication of the black hole image "M87" surrounded by a radiant aura.

This image was made possible by simultaneous data collected in April 2017 from 8 M87-based radio telescopes, which allowed detailed observation of black hole characteristics, for the first time in history, and to confirm theories about the structure of these astronomical objects.

"For years, I told people that we were going to have the image of a black hole and they told me that they would believe it only in the first place. seeing the images, the scientific community was also skeptical, "said Dolman.

"When we realize this success and bring evidence, we are proud to have opened a new field of research," he told AFP.

The Breakthrough Award was launched by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to recognize achievements in basic research.

The prize is also awarded in the categories Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Fundamental Physics. In its eighth edition, it honored researchers who have conducted studies on obesity, cellular aging, body aches and dementia, as well as conservators of the concept of supergravity.