Astronomy current events question: merged binary stars near central supermassive black hoe

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2020
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Stuart Wolpert, "Astronomers Discover Class of Strange Objects Near Our Galaxy's Enormous Black Hole" (January 15, 2020)
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/astronomy-strange-objects-galaxy-black-hole

Researchers propose that __________ fluctuate between compact and gaseous behavior near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole.
(A) wormholes.
(B) cosmic string loops.
(C) dark matter vortices.
(D) merged binary stars.
(E) matter and antimatter pockets.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 19 students
(E) : 3 students