By Sheetal Kumari | January 21, 2025
A NASA study estimates 35% of supermassive black holes are hidden, shrouded by gas and dust, doubling earlier estimates. Explore how these elusive giants shape our understanding of galaxies.
(Image:Canva)
Supermassive black holes, billions of times heavier than the Sun, sit at the centres of galaxies. Despite their darkness, they emit bright signals when gas spirals around them.
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Detecting hidden black holes is tough. Thick gas and dust obscure light, making these cosmic giants invisible to many telescopes. NASA’s study brings new techniques to uncover them.
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NASA’s Infrared Astronomy Satellite and NuSTAR X-ray telescope teamed up. They detected infrared and X-ray emissions to identify hidden supermassive black holes across the universe.
(Image: NASA)
Gas around hidden black holes heats up, glowing brightly in infrared and X-ray wavelengths. This light pierces through obscuring clouds, revealing the elusive giants to astronomers.
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Hidden black holes are vital to understanding galaxy formation. The study estimates their true number and sheds light on how these giants shape the galaxies they inhabit.
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Supermassive black holes influence galaxies by regulating star formation. Excess gas falling into them gets expelled, dispersing star-forming material and slowing galaxy growth.
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Earlier estimates suggested 15% of black holes are hidden. NASA’s new findings show the number could be closer to 35%, challenging existing models of galaxy evolution.
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This discovery highlights the importance of combining telescope data across wavelengths. Decades-old archives from NASA’s Infrared Satellite proved invaluable for these groundbreaking results.
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NASA’s study reveals more about hidden supermassive black holes. This knowledge reshapes our understanding of the universe, showing how vital these mysterious giants are to cosmic evolution.
(Image:Canva)