CUNY lab recreates black hole energy extraction
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 19, 2026
This breakthrough is primarily a fundamental science achievement with potential long-term implications for communications and photonics industries. Near-term market impact is limited as practical applications require further development.
Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have experimentally demonstrated a method to extract energy from synthetic rotation, inspired by the Penrose-Zel'dovich process for black holes. By engineering a radio-frequency device with properties modulated in space and time, they created synthetic ultrafast rotation without moving parts. Electromagnetic waves interacting with the device were amplified, reproducing the essential physics of the theoretical process. The findings were published in Nature on July 8, 2026. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, the United States — National Science Foundation, and the Simons Foundation. The technique could lead to advances in wireless communications, optics, photonics, and quantum technologies.
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