'Billions of Suns eaten': NASA finds a cosmic monster that feeds itself
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
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Feeding Frenzy
A cosmic cycle unfolds as black holes sustain themselves by cooling surrounding gas. New data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the VLT in Chile reveal that these behemoths fuel their own growth, triggering continuous outbursts in deep space.
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Cosmic Jets
When black holes consume gas, they unleash powerful jets. These violent eruptions shock the surrounding hot gas, causing it to cool and condense into glowing filaments, which then drift back, feeding the black hole once more.
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Glowing Threads
Astronomers observed that the filaments formed by cooled gas shine brilliantly, outlining the mechanics of black hole feeding. Lead researcher Valeria Olivares from the University of Santiago de Chile emphasizes the self-sustaining nature of this process.
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Clustered Giants
The study examined seven galaxy clusters, where massive black holes—some billions of times the Sun’s mass—sit at their centers. Perseus and Centaurus stand out, showcasing striking images of gas filaments wrapping around these cosmic monsters.
Turbulent Dance
Turbulence in the hot gas is a key player in this feeding mechanism. The chaos caused by black hole jets enhances cooling, allowing gas to transition from scorching temperatures to a state ready to be devoured again.
Strange Link
Unexpectedly, researchers found similarities between these glowing filaments and the gas tails of jellyfish galaxies. This connection hints at a common cosmic mechanism, bridging two seemingly unrelated celestial events.
3D Vision
Using the VLT’s MUSE instrument, scientists created breathtaking three-dimensional views of the gas flow. Meanwhile, NASA’s Chandra X-ray data provided the crucial evidence linking bright gas emissions to black hole feeding behavior.
Galactic Pulse
The study confirmed a direct correlation: when the hot gas in clusters shines intensely, so does the warm gas. This synchronization provides the clearest proof yet that black holes dictate the energy cycles of entire galaxies.
Endless Cycle
With each eruption, the cycle repeats—jets fire, gas cools, filaments form, and the black hole feeds again. This self-perpetuating process could shape the fate of galaxies for billions of years, keeping these monsters alive indefinitely.