Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, observing the first black hole to “turn off” and then suddenly turn back on, releasing jets of hot gas into space. The black hole, which weighs 1.4 million suns and is located 270 million light-years from Earth, was initially quiet for years but began emitting X-rays in late 2022. This sudden change sparked intense interest among scientists.
Researchers believe that the black hole’s unusual behavior may be linked to an unseen star that has been teetering on the brink of being consumed by the black hole. However, instead of being swept into the abyss, this star is resisting the gravitational pull and shedding material, which could potentially provide insights into the interactions between black holes and surrounding gas disks.
The observations were made using a network of radio telescopes across the US and revealed never-before-seen jets blasting hot blobs of plasma from both sides of the black hole at speeds of about one-third the speed of light. While it is unclear what triggered the newborn jets, scientists suspect that the 2018 flare-up may have played a key role in creating the necessary jet-forming material.
The findings are outlined in a paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and provide new insights into the elusive interactions between black holes and surrounding matter. Studying this phenomenon could shed light on how black holes feed and behave, which is crucial for understanding their role in the universe.
Significant changes were observed in X-ray emissions from 2022, with the frequency increasing every seven minutes before stabilizing. This stability suggests that an orbiting companion, likely a white dwarf, is resisting being consumed by the black hole. The location of this companion and its frequency are critical to understanding its behavior, which could provide valuable information about the physics involved.
The discovery has sparked excitement among scientists, who see it as a critical puzzle piece in understanding the mysterious interactions between cosmic behemoths and surrounding matter.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/it-was-very-fortunate-timing-astronomers-watch-1st-black-hole-to-shut-off-blast-back-to-life