'NASA’s hidden universe': Billions of black holes found cloaked in dust

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh Representative pic

Hidden Giants

[{"selector":"#anim-5720403c-e8d5-45d1-ae60-599da41b9f11 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.67285631546797%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Hundreds of supermassive black holes have been discovered, but billions more may remain unseen. Representative pic

Infrared Hunt

[{"selector":"#anim-d1b15f5e-0a35-46d1-abdd-152ed570a892 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.835937298761756%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Astronomers used infrared light to peer through dust and gas, unveiling concealed black holes. Representative pic

Obscured View

[{"selector":"#anim-ca7259be-8e46-47c9-8a85-d30e52642b79 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.499999863470876%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Many black holes are shrouded by gas and dust, hiding them from visible-light detection. Representative pic

Powerful Tools

[{"selector":"#anim-e29b31ee-6352-4bfa-8d7a-9d1b8a668369 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.382378250575716%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] NASA’s IRAS and NuSTAR telescopes revealed emissions from these cloaked cosmic giants. Credit: NASA

Massive Scale

[{"selector":"#anim-ef4f0136-b445-45a0-af8e-6a01c7ef91ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-3.12499971556431%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Supermassive black holes, with masses at least 100,000 times that of our sun, exist in most galaxies. Representative pic

Shocking Estimate

[{"selector":"#anim-f41b61bd-54c2-4aa2-afc6-db6520184662 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(39.66411945547661%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] A study in The Astrophysical Journal suggests 35–50% of black holes are hidden. Representative pic

Cosmic Shadows

[{"selector":"#anim-894218bb-f9ae-4b7f-8d94-697822c01c23 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Black holes without visible halos emit infrared light, making their detection an intricate task. Representative pic

Galaxy Evolution

[{"selector":"#anim-1a5ea4b0-92e6-48a7-9005-58b8a3a5cd18 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.6038251377148214%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This discovery helps refine theories on galaxy formation and the role of black holes in it.

Expanding Numbers

Researchers believe trillions of supermassive black holes could be scattered across the universe. Representative pic

Future Research

[{"selector":"#anim-c8de44bd-d1a0-47de-8f65-c253a612b342 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -1.5161928876140027%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] NASA’s NuSTAR and other advanced telescopes will continue uncovering these enigmatic entities.

Related Stories ‘Made in Bengaluru for Moon’: India’s bacteria bricks could build the first lunar base 'They’re hatching a Dodo': Inside the wild plan to reverse 300 years of extinction 'The Matrix wasn’t far off': Your life might be a galactic illusion 'Wind brings ghost fleet': Thousands of eerie sea creatures blanket California beaches