• Scientists have experimentally created a 'black hole bomb' analog, verifying the theoretical concept of energy extraction from rotating systems first proposed in the 1970s.
• The experiment utilized a rotating aluminum cylinder and magnetic fields to mimic the conditions around a black hole, demonstrating the amplification of electromagnetic waves.
• This breakthrough provides a new tool for understanding black hole physics, superradiance, and potentially exploring dark matter interactions.

Physicists have successfully constructed a laboratory analog of a 'black hole bomb,' a theoretical concept involving the extraction of energy from a rotating black hole through wave amplification. The experiment, conducted at the University of Southampton, involved a rotating aluminum cylinder surrounded by magnetic coils. This setup mimicked the ergosphere of a black hole, allowing researchers to observe the amplification of electromagnetic waves and validate the Zel'dovich effect and Penrose's theory of energy extraction. The research provides valuable insights into black hole physics and offers potential applications in understanding dark matter and other astrophysical phenomena.

• What: Creation of a laboratory analog of a 'black hole bomb' to experimentally verify the theoretical concept of energy extraction from rotating black holes.
• Who: Researchers from the University of Southampton, the University of Glasgow, and the Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies at Italy's National Research Council, led by Hendrik Ulbricht and Marion Cromb.
• When: Experiment conducted in 2025, based on theories proposed by Roger Penrose (1969, 1971) and Yakov Zel'dovich (1971).
• Where: University of Southampton, UK.

The creation of a 'black hole bomb' analog represents a significant step forward in our understanding of black hole physics and related phenomena. The experiment successfully validates the Zel'dovich effect and Penrose's theory of energy extraction, demonstrating that energy can be amplified from a rotating system. This breakthrough not only confirms theoretical predictions but also opens new avenues for exploring superradiance and its potential applications, particularly in the study of dark matter. The ability to mimic black hole behavior in a controlled laboratory setting provides invaluable insights that are otherwise inaccessible due to the extreme conditions surrounding real black holes. Further research in this area could lead to a deeper understanding of the universe's most enigmatic objects and potentially uncover new physics beyond our current understanding.

"Our work brings this prediction fully into the lab, demonstrating not only amplification but also the transition to instability and spontaneous wave generation."

"We sometimes pushed the system so hard that circuit components exploded. That was both thrilling and a real experimental challenge!"

“We’re generating a signal from noise — just like in the black hole bomb idea,”

The successful creation of a 'black hole bomb' analog marks a significant achievement in experimental physics. By mimicking the conditions around a rotating black hole, researchers have validated key theoretical concepts and opened new avenues for exploring extreme astrophysical phenomena. While the experiment is a 'toy model,' its implications extend far beyond the lab, offering new insights into black hole physics, superradiance, and the search for dark matter. Future research will likely focus on refining the analog and exploring its potential applications in quantum physics and cosmology.