Black Hole Assassin: A Stellar Massacre Unleashed in the Galaxy

Astronomers have used a tidal disruption event (TDE), where a black hole shreds a passing star, to measure the amounts of nitrogen and carbon around the black hole, inferring the destruction of a massive star three times bigger than the sun. The TDE, known as ASASSN-14li, was observed using X-ray telescopes and provides detailed information on the rare event of a massive star being destroyed by a supermassive black hole. This forensic analysis sheds light on the composition of the doomed star and offers insights into the destruction caused by black holes.