New Study by Tonima Tasnim Ananna â13 Breaks Ground in Black Hole Research
A by published in The Astrophysical Journal clears the mystery around the life cycles of black holes.
Ananna, who is a postdoctoral research associate at Dartmouth College, led her team in examining a type of supermassive black hole known as âactive galactic nucleiâ (AGN). Black holes have different colors and levels of brightness, which has largely been attributed to the angle from which they are being viewed. However, Anannaâs study discovered that the differences in a black holeâs light emission actually reflect the stage of a black holeâs life cycle.
The research teamâs findings refute the âunified model of AGNs,â which states that differences in black hole appearances depend on viewing angle and characterizes supermassive black holes as having the same properties. The results from the study provide valuable insight the evolution of black holes and the universe.
Ananna majored in physics at Bryn Mawr, and astronomy at Haverford. She was listed as one of Science Newsâ 10 Scientists to Watch in 2020.
Astrophysicist Tonima Tasnim Ananna '13 Makes List of 10 Scientists to Watch
There were not a lot of opportunities to study space in Bangladesh, so she came to the United States for undergrad, attending Âé¶čAV in Pennsylvania. âThe women at Bryn Mawr were fiercely feminist, articulate, opinionated and independent,â she says. âIt really helped me grow a lot.â