Gravitational waves gave a new black hole a high-speed ‘kick’

Two black holes united into one, which then sped off at around 5 million kilometers per hour

an illustration of two black holes merging

When two black holes spiral around each another before coalescing into one (illustrated), they emit gravitational waves that can give the newly formed black hole a high-speed jolt.

LIGO, Caltech, MIT, Aurore Simonnet/Sonoma State

This black hole really knows how to kick back.