Strange Event Might Have Been a Primordial Black Hole Winking at Us

Astronomers say a 2019 one-hour brightening of a star in the Large Magellanic Cloud may have been caused by microlensing.

After ruling out more likely explanations, Renee Key’s team suggests the lens could be a tiny primordial black hole nicknamed Phoebe.

The object is estimated at about three Moon masses, making it a rare candidate for a primordial black hole.

If confirmed, it could offer new clues about dark matter and conditions in the early universe.