New discoveries in black hole research: 3D mapping and potential new star type.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have simulated a hypothetical object called a topological soliton, which looks like a black hole from afar but behaves differently up close. The simulations suggest that there could be other types of celestial bodies in space hiding from even the best telescopes on Earth. The topological soliton distorts space exactly as a black hole does but releases weak light rays that would not escape the strong gravitational force of a true hole. The findings could help scientists figure out how to distinguish between black holes and other objects that produce similar gravitational effects.