At the heart of our galaxy, a star called S301 races around the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at 8 percent the speed of light — the fastest known stellar motion in the Milky Way. Detected by an international team using Chile's Very Large Telescope Interferometer and published in Nature, this discovery is more than an astronomical record: it is a key that may finally unlock a century-old question about the nature of space-time itself. Within a decade, watching S301 complete its swift, close orbits could yield the first direct measurement of how fast a black hole spins, putting Einstein
The Tico Times
· Aug 22, 2026
· technology
· 3 min read
High
Sourcing: Verified
Astronomers discover S301, fastest star in Milky Way orbiting black hole
◉
Science & Space
6903 related articles
NASA Launches Artemis II: Four Astronauts Head to Moon in Historic Mis…
Devdiscourse · 100% match
NASA study finds Earth microbes could survive on Moon's South Pole, co…
Texas Public Radio | TPR · 99% match
Blue Origin Probed Over Rocket Failure as Mars Rover Finds Organic Com…
Devdiscourse · 99% match
Israeli radiation vest shows promise for safer deep-space missions
jns.org · 99% match
Starship's Raw Power Masks Mars Challenge: Orbital Refueling Still Unp…
Space Daily · 99% match
Related Coverage
Al Jazeera · Aug 22
China's Chang'e-7 Aims to Unlock Moon's Water Ice Secrets at South Pole
China's Chang'e-7 unmanned mission launches this week to explore the moon's south pole for water ice in permanently shad…
Bangkok Post · Aug 22 Thailand Opens Cancer Screening Centre at MRT Station to Boost Preventive Care AccessThailand's Transport and Public Health ministries are converting space at an Orange Line MRT station into a cancer preve…
Science Daily · Aug 22 Queen bees transfer pesticides to eggs to protect themselves, study findsHoneybee queens exposed to pesticides shift contamination into their eggs to protect themselves, a survival strategy tha…
Science Daily · Aug 22 Natural tooth count predicts pancreatic cancer survival, study findsPancreatic cancer patients with 21+ natural teeth survived nearly two years longer after surgery than those with fewer t…
Bias & Framing
⚖
Straightforward science reporting on astronomical discovery with minimal bias; presents facts, expert credentials, and methodology without loaded language or obvious perspective skewing.
Bias Direction
center
Confidence
HIGH
Objective scientific reporting with emphasis on discovery significance and methodological rigor. Uses expert authority (Nobel laureate quotes) to establish credibility. Frames discovery as 'groundbreaking' and 'promising' but these characterizations are supported by scientific context.
groundbreaking discovery
opens a new window
extreme black hole environment
Skeptical or alternative scientific viewpoints on the discovery's significance
Perspectives from competing research teams or institutions
Potential limitations or challenges in the research methodology
Timeline context: when this discovery was actually made vs. publication date discrepancy (article dated 2026)
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Astronomical discovery of S301 star has no direct geopolitical implications; it is a scientific advancement in astrophysics with international research collaboration.
Escalation Risk
low
Confidence
HIGH
This is a scientific discovery, not a geopolitical event. International collaboration (Germany, Chile, ESO) demonstrates continued scientific cooperation across borders.
Economic Lens
📈
Discovery of fastest star S301 orbiting black hole has minimal direct economic impact; primarily advances fundamental physics research and astronomy infrastructure.
Market Signal
neutral
Confidence
HIGH
Scientific research and development
Astronomy and space observation
Higher education and research institutions
Telescope manufacturing and instrumentation
Publishing and academic journals
No direct impact on consumers or households. Long-term indirect benefits possible through technological spillovers from advanced astronomical instrumentation and fundamental physics research.
May strengthen government funding arguments for basic science research, international scientific collaboration (ESO), and advanced telescope infrastructure. Could influence STEM education policy priorities.