A massive black hole, 400 million times the mass of the Sun, was recently detected using the Webb Space Telescope, revealing a surprising finding: it’s been dormant for nearly 13 billion years. The discovery challenges conventional models of black hole growth and has sparked debate among astronomers about the nature of these cosmic giants.
The black hole is enormous, making up approximately 40% of its host galaxy’s total mass. However, unlike previously thought, this massive black hole is not actively accreting material. According to a team of researchers who studied the phenomenon, it’s possible that black holes may be “born big” or go through periods of hyperactivity followed by long periods of dormancy.
The study was conducted using near- and mid-infrared wavelengths, allowing the telescope to cut through clouds of interstellar dust and observe fainter light sources. The researchers used this technique to learn more about the mass of the host galaxy as well as the black hole’s properties.
Astronomers have long struggled to understand how black holes form and grow. Black holes are thought to originate from collapsed stars, and their intense gravitational fields attract matter around them. The matter swirling around the black hole glows in an accretion disk, which can occasionally cause a brilliant flash of light – this is how black holes feed.
The detection of this massive black hole has provided valuable insights into the behavior of these objects. By studying the shadows and effects on surrounding matter, astronomers can build better models simulating extreme physics. The study’s findings have sparked new ideas about black hole evolution and the possibility that they may be “born big” or experience periods of dormancy.
The discovery of this massive black hole has shed new light on the mysterious nature of these cosmic phenomena, leaving room for further research and exploration into the secrets of the universe.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/relatable-black-hole-found-in-a-food-coma-2000540267