Researchers have discovered that black holes do not simply consume matter passively. In a groundbreaking study, scientists found that these cosmic phenomena actively control their own feeding by ejecting powerful outbursts of energy. This process cools nearby matter, triggering a return flow of fresh fuel.
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope captured images of this phenomenon in distant galaxy clusters, including the Perseus and Centaurus Clusters. The data revealed clear signs of cold gas filaments condensing and flowing back into the black hole’s gravitational pull.
The discovery suggests that black hole outbursts create turbulence in surrounding gas, setting off a chain reaction that enables constant refueling. Paradoxically, this process also cools the surroundings, sustaining a cycle of continuous growth.
Furthermore, some of the cooled gas avoids the black hole and forms new stars, linking black hole activity directly to galaxy evolution. This behavior is reminiscent of jellyfish galaxies, hinting at universal cosmic mechanisms.
Future studies using 3D spectroscopic imaging will aim to refine our understanding of this phenomenon, led by Valeria Olivares and her team at the University of Santiago de Chile.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/black-holes-create-their-own-food-nasas-chandra-finds-why-they-never-run-out-of-fuel-207749-06-02-2025