In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled a hidden population of supermassive black holes, challenging our understanding of galactic evolution. Researchers from the University of Southampton and NASA have identified hundreds of previously undetected black holes, offering a new perspective on the cosmos.
These cosmic giants, with masses at least 100,000 times that of the Sun, reside at the centers of galaxies. Their influence shapes galactic structure and star formation. However, many are obscured by thick clouds of dust and gas, making them invisible to conventional telescopes.
The breakthrough, published on December 30, 2024, in the Astrophysical Journal, utilized data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the NuSTAR X-ray telescope. These instruments allowed scientists to peer through the obscuring dust and gas, revealing that approximately 35% of supermassive black holes are hidden in this manner, a significant increase from previous estimates of only 15%.
Professor Poshak Gandhi from the University of Southampton explained that while black holes themselves don't emit light, the gas swirling around them heats up and glows intensely. This light is then absorbed and re-emitted as infrared radiation, which telescopes like IRAS and NuSTAR can detect.
This discovery has profound implications for our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve. Supermassive black holes can influence star formation by either pulling in surrounding matter or heating gas, preventing new stars from forming. Astronomers now aim to determine the prevalence of these hidden black holes and their role in shaping the universe. This research also promises to shed more light on the core of our own galaxy, the Milky Way.