Scientists have discovered three extreme examples of supermassive black holes feasting on massive stars, releasing more energy than 100 supernovae and representing the most energetic type of cosmic explosion since the big bang.
These events, known as “extreme nuclear transients,” are rare occurrences where a star is destroyed by a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy. The brightness from these events lasts for several months and can be detected using telescopes.
The study used data from NASA, ESA, and other institutions to analyze the X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical light emitted during these events. The findings suggest that these rare explosions can help unveil massive supermassive black holes in the universe that are usually quiet.
The researchers hope that future telescopes like NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be able to detect these events from even farther away, providing a new way to explore how stars, galaxies, and black holes formed and evolved over time.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/astrophysics/3-black-holes-caught-eating-massive-stars-in-nasa-data