Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have discovered that about 35% of supermassive black holes are hidden behind thick clouds of gas and dust that block even low-energy X-rays. This is significantly higher than previous studies, where only 15% of such objects were recorded. The study was published in the journal Astrophysical Journal (AstroJournal).
Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong that not even light can escape their boundaries. Supermassive black holes, which can be billions of times more massive than the Sun, lie at the center of almost every large galaxy. Despite their “invisibility”, they are among the brightest objects in the Universe, as the gas surrounding them heats up to incredible temperatures, emitting powerful radiation.
In a new study, scientists used data from the infrared telescope IRAS and the NSTAR X-ray telescope to search for supermassive black holes. This approach made it possible to effectively identify even previously unnoticed black holes located “at the edge” of the observer.
“The results support the hypothesis that many supermassive black holes are surrounded by dense clouds of material that prevent direct observation. This helps us better understand how black holes grow and interact with galaxies,” said lead author Dr. Peter Boorman.
The study also highlights the impact of black holes on the evolution of galaxies. When a black hole consumes too much matter, it blows the excess matter back into space, slowing star formation in the galaxy.
Previous scientists showed New images of the Hydra constellation from the Hubble telescope.
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Source: Gazeta
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