At the heart of nearly every large galaxy in the universe, there is a supermassive black hole that devours anything that comes too close. When these cosmic monsters consume large amounts of energy and matter, they can create jets of plasma that shoot out into space at incredible speeds. For example, the galaxy Messier 87, located about 54 million light-years away from Earth, is home to a supermassive black hole that produces 3,000 light-year-long jets of plasma.
New research based on observations from the Hubble Space Telescope has found that double-star systems near these jets lead risky lives. In these systems, two stars are gravitationally bound to each other, with one often being an aging, swollen star and the other a white dwarf. The larger star sheds hydrogen, which is then drawn towards the white dwarf. When enough hydrogen accumulates on the white dwarf’s surface, it can trigger an explosion known as a nova.
Astronomers have discovered that nova eruptions are almost twice as likely to occur in double-star systems near Messier 87’s supermassive black hole jets. Initially, scientists believed that the jets could be enhancing the fueling process or even creating new double-star systems. However, lead author Alec Lessing from Stanford University remains uncertain about the cause of this phenomenon.
The Hubble Space Telescope has been instrumental in studying the activity around Messier 87’s supermassive black hole. Observations over a nine-month period revealed enhanced activity near the black hole, indicating its influence on surrounding stars. This research sheds light on the impact of supermassive black holes on galaxy activity and evolution.
The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal on Sept. 27. This research highlights the importance of understanding the interactions between black hole jets and their surroundings, as it could provide valuable insights into the evolution of galaxies.
Conor Feehly, a science writer from New Zealand, specializes in topics related to neuroscience and psychology. His work has been featured in various scientific publications, including Cosmos Magazine and Discover Magazine. Feehly’s expertise extends to a wide range of scientific subjects, from astrophysics to archaeology.
