AI trained on cats and dogs validates historic black hole image
Perth CSIRO astronomers independently confirmed the 2019 black hole image using an AI model trained on cats and dogs.
A small CSIRO team from Perth recreated the landmark 2019 black hole image. The black hole sits at the centre of galaxy M87, 55 million light years away.
The team built a custom AI model trained on real-world images of animals and cars. They deliberately avoided learning from existing ideas about black hole shape or size.
The researchers applied their technique to Event Horizon Telescope data. They confirmed the ring structure that rival theories had questioned.
The findings were published in the journal Nature on Thursday. The independent validation strengthens confidence in black hole science.
It confirms Einstein's predictions about how black holes distort space-time.
- 55 million light years
- Black hole distance
- 2019 Event Horizon Telescope
- Original image
- Cats, dogs, and cars
- Training data
- Nature journal
- Publication
Why it mattersIndependent confirmation of this landmark image settles rival scientific theories about black hole structure. The technique could be applied beyond astronomy.
AustraliaThe Perth CSIRO team's breakthrough brings prestige to Australian science and demonstrates how Australian researchers can make discoveries of global significance.
