# LIGO signal S251112cm may be a primordial black hole with mass below the Sun's

- Published: 2026-11-15 05:38 UTC
- Section: Sky & Space › Astronomy
- Tags: primordial black hole, LIGO signal S251112cm, gravitational wave detection, black hole below solar mass, dark matter candidate, Big Bang black holes, University of Miami astrophysics, LISA space interferometer
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-4cc6aca764699e144ea44c33_ligo_signal_s251112cm/

**Astrophysicists at the University of Miami link a LIGO signal to a primordial black hole; the result needs confirmation by further detections.**

![LIGO signal S251112cm may be a primordial black hole with mass below the Sun's](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/1fcefba0b1612636.webp)
*science-et-vie.com*

Two astrophysicists at the University of Miami, Alberto Magaraggia and Nico Cappelluti, analysed a signal recorded by LIGO, the US gravitational-wave detector, and propose that it came from a primordial black hole, according to science-et-vie.com [1]. The signal, designated S251112cm, corresponds to an object with a mass below that of the Sun, which an ordinary black hole cannot have [1]. If confirmed, it would be the first observation of such an object.

## Why the mass matters

Ordinary black holes form when a massive star collapses at the end of its life in a supernova, so their minimum mass always exceeds that of the Sun [1]. Primordial black holes, by contrast, would have formed within the first second after the Big Bang from extremely dense pockets of subatomic matter, with no star involved [1]. According to ScienceAlert, cited by the outlet, their mass can fall well below one solar mass, sometimes down to the size of an asteroid [1].

The researchers compared the expected detection rate of such objects with LIGO data accumulated since 2015. The two match: the rarity of this type of signal is consistent with theoretical predictions for primordial black holes [1].

## Dark matter and next steps

Dark matter is said to make up about 85% of the Universe's total mass. It cannot be detected directly, and its existence is inferred from its influence on ordinary matter [1]. According to an analysis published by the University of Miami, some astrophysicists think primordial black holes could account for a significant share of it [1].

Cappelluti said that LIGO captured what looks like solid evidence that such black holes exist, but that other similar signals must be detected for a definitive confirmation [1]. The researchers stress that a single detection is not enough to validate a discovery of this scale [1].

LIGO undergoes regular upgrades that improve its sensitivity. The European Space Agency is also preparing LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), a space-based gravitational-wave detector planned for 2035 [1]. According to the source, the detection shows that current instruments can search for objects formed nearly 14 billion years ago [1].

## Sources

1. [science-et-vie.com](https://www.science-et-vie.com/ciel-et-espace/premiere-mondiale-un-trou-noir-primordial-ne-du-big-bang-aurait-ete-observe-233670.html)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-4cc6aca764699e144ea44c33_ligo_signal_s251112cm/