Scientists Confirm First Successful Black Hole Bomb Experiment

Physicists have experimentally demonstrated the black hole bomb effect—first theorized in the early 1970s—by amplifying electromagnetic waves with a spinning aluminum cylinder and magnetic fields in a laboratory. Inspired by the work of Roger Penrose and Yakov Zel’dovich, this setup mimics how energy could theoretically be extracted from a rotating black hole, with the device's magnetic field acting as a mirror to bounce and amplify the waves. The experiment confirmed the Zel’dovich effect, showing that under the right conditions, a rotating object can shift from absorbing to amplifying incoming waves, leading to a dramatic buildup of energy. While this 'black hole bomb' is a toy model rather than a cosmic-scale phenomenon, it validates decades-old predictions and helps scientists understand wave amplification and energy extraction in extreme physics environments. Importantly, the device is not a weapon but a proof-of-concept rooted in curiosity-driven research. The findings not only confirm key theoretical insights but also open new avenues for exploring high-energy astrophysical processes in controlled laboratory settings.