Star Death Infographic

Science Illustration / Graphics • Scientific American • 2025
Timeline of star death by black hole includes two branches. One branch shows relativistic outflow, in which a jet emerges then abruptly turns off around 550 days later. The other branch shows non-relativistic outflow, in which burp-like emissions occur around 1,000 days after the initial disruption, with a few possible additional burps later. (Illustrations and infographic by Olena Shmahalo for Scientific American)

FOR
Scientific American, 2025
Thanks to Jen Christiansen

WORK
Illustration

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C4D, CSP, Procreate

INFO
Illustrations and infographic about star death by black hole and its aftermath: black hole "burps".

For a Scientific American article by Yvette Cendes, edited by Clara Moskowitz: Could Mysterious Black Hole Burps Rewrite Physics?

Illustration of a black hole with an accretion disk, burping (delayed flashes of radio light that appear long after the initial signal). The black hole burps are symbolized by concentric, wavy red forms radiating out of the center. Art by Olena Shmahalo for Scientific American.

Stylized illustration of a black hole with accretion disk, "burping" (emitting radio light bursts long after initially devouring an orbiting star).

Illustration of star spaghettification – a star being stretched out due to the strong gravitational forces of a nearby black hole. Art by Olena Shmahalo for Scientific American.
Illustration of a black hole with an accretion disk and jets — an AGN. Graphical electrons are spiraling around in the jets. Art by Olena Shmahalo for Scientific American.

Stylized illustrations of a black hole causing star "spaghettification" before devouring the star's material, and the aftermath: the black hole shooting out material in the form of jets.

Screenshot_2025-07_SciAm_BH-Burps

© Olena Shmahalo