iNews

Long-dormant black hole ‘woke up’ before our eyes — now, it’s doing something that astronomers can’t explain

Long-dormant black hole ‘woke up’ before our eyes — now, it’s doing something that astronomers can’t explain

 

In December 2019, an ordinary galaxy 300 million light-years from us in the constellation Virgo suddenly woke up. After decades of inactivity, the black hole at the galaxy’s heart burst with light. Now, the cosmic monster appears to be doing something that is forcing astronomers to re-evaluate their understanding of these massive celestial bodies.

The black hole now gives off powerful X-rays at nearly regular intervals. These outbursts are known as quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs), and have been observed emitting from other black holes. But the bursts observed here are up to 100 times more powerful than normal, according to new research. First observed in February 2024 by astronomers at Valparaiso University in Chile, this behavior grants scientists an unprecedented view of a black hole that seems to be awakening from dormancy with no sign of going back to sleep.

Led by the Valparaiso team, a group of researchers published their observations of the black hole’s QPE in a study on April 11 in the journal Nature Astronomy. In addition to giving astronomers a novel view of black holes, these events are also spurring researchers to reconsider how black holes behave.

“This is the first time we have observed such an event in a black hole that seems to be waking up,” the paper’s first author Lorena Hernández-García, an astronomy researcher at Valparaiso University, said in a statement. “This rare event provides an opportunity for astronomers to observe a black hole’s behaviour in real time.”

The galaxy, called SDSS1335+0728, first called attention to itself in 2019 when it unexpectedly started gleaming. At that time, astronomers from the European Southern Observatory studied the event by consulting NASA’s Swift X-ray space telescope and data from the eROSITA X-ray telescope. After investigating the galaxy’s central region — nicknamed Ansky — they concluded that the flash resulted from Ansky’s massive black hole beginning an active phase.

But in February 2024, Hernández-García’s team noticed bursts of previously undetected X-rays emanating from Ansky, caught by X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and NASA’s NICER, Chandra, and Swift. These QPEs are momentary, recurring X-ray flares. Astronomers believe QPEs result from interaction between accretion disks — the swirling ring of red-hot matter that surrounds a black hole — and nearby objects, like a star or a smaller black hole.

Stronger and longer

 

But Ansky’s QPEs aren’t typical. They’re remarkable because they last 10 times longer and are 10 times more luminous than average QPEs, the researchers said. Persisting for more than four days, they each release one hundred times more energy than what’s expected. These QPEs reveal a whole new aspect of black holes that don’t fit neatly into astronomers’ prior understanding of the cosmic bodies.

In particular, these unusual QPEs can help broaden our understanding of how these events occur. For example, there’s no evidence that Ansky has shredded a star into its accretion disk, which is what researchers currently believe triggers most QPEs. Therefore, there must be another explanation for the impetus that causes the QPEs in this case.

The X-ray bursts may instead come from energetic shocks in the accretion disk spurred by a small celestial object repeatedly disrupting its orbiting material, according to the paper.

It’s also possible that these repeated QPEs come from gravitational waves. The European Space Agency’s upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), set to launch in 2035, may confirm that connection by detecting gravitational waves with greater fidelity than ever before.

For now, Ansky is reshaping how we conceive of black holes.

“Studying Ansky will help us to better understand black holes and how they evolve,” Hernández-García said.

Related Posts

James Webb Telescope Reveals Surprising Update On An Asteroid That Could Make Everyone On Earth A Billionaire

If you keep up with space discoveries, you may have heard of an asteroid that is worth $10 quintillion. Yes, you read correctly. It comes to a total…

Tic Tac UFO on Mars?! Congress hears the scientific truth about UAPs!

**Headline: “Tic Tac UFO Spotted on Mars? Congressional Briefing Ignites New Wave of UAP Curiosity!”** In a groundbreaking congressional briefing on May 1st, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability delved into the enigmatic world of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), sparking renewed interest and debate about what lies beyond our atmosphere. With a focus on national security and scientific innovation, the briefing featured notable speakers, including former Pentagon official Luis Alzando and Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who both advocated for greater government transparency regarding UAP data. Led by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, the session aimed to push the boundaries of what we know about UAPs, but it was marred by the rapid debunking of a photo presented by Alzando, allegedly showcasing a UFO captured by a commercial airline pilot. The image, which claimed to depict a massive unidentified object, was swiftly identified as nothing more than the circular irrigation patterns commonly found in the Midwest. This embarrassing misstep raised questions about Alzando’s credibility and overshadowed the session’s more serious scientific discussions, leaving many skeptics and enthusiasts alike questioning the integrity of the entire presentation. However, amid the controversy, a remarkable discovery surfaced: a photograph of a Tic Tac-shaped object on the surface of Mars, which could potentially change the narrative on extraterrestrial life. Mike Gold, a former NASA associate administrator, revealed this intriguing image during his segment. While Gold refrained from labeling it as an artificial object, he emphasized the need for meticulous examination of Mars footage, suggesting that we should not dismiss the possibility of extraterrestrial artifacts. As the briefing progressed, Avi Loeb made a compelling case for investing in UAP research, arguing that understanding these phenomena could yield breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and national security. “If we find that all UAPs are human-made, we’ll gain state-of-the-art technology,” he stated, “but if one happens to be extraterrestrial, it could lead to a Nobel Prize.” His call for a billion-dollar investment into rigorous scientific research resonated with the audience, emphasizing the monumental implications of uncovering the truth about UAPs. The session also included contributions from Christopher Mellon, a national security expert, who highlighted a troubling lack of UAP data from advanced military radar systems. Melon questioned whether the government’s silence on UAP sightings stemmed from a failure of technology or a deliberate cover-up, further fueling speculation about the extent of what the military knows but refuses to share. Retired Admiral Tim Gallaudet echoed these sentiments, expressing frustration over a decades-long disinformation campaign within the Department of Defense. He recounted alarming reports from Navy personnel who had encountered UAPs, urging Congress to demand accountability and transparency from military leadership. Despite the sensationalism surrounding the Tic Tac UFO and other reported phenomena, there’s a palpable sense of urgency within the scientific community to unravel these mysteries. Dr. Eric Davis, a physicist involved in classified Pentagon programs, revealed that the U.S. government has secretly recovered crashed UFOs since the 1940s, a claim that, if substantiated, could fundamentally alter our understanding of extraterrestrial technology. The lunar horizon glow, a phenomenon observed by astronauts and unmanned probes, also drew attention during the briefing. Gold’s assertion that this unexplained light could warrant further investigation adds another layer to the ongoing dialogue regarding UAPs and extraterrestrial life. While the session was punctuated by moments of embarrassment and skepticism, the discussions ignited a renewed interest in UAP research. As Congress grapples with the implications of these findings, the question remains: will the U.S. government finally take meaningful action to uncover the truth behind UAPs? In a world where the line between fact and fiction blurs daily, the implications of these discussions could be monumental. As we continue to explore the cosmos, the hope remains that one day we might answer the age-old question: are we truly alone?

From BLACKPINK’s Lisa, to Enhypen Jake: K-pop leads most talked about celebrities at Coachella 2025

Week 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2025 had Enhypen members, Lisa, and Jennie being recognized by fans and non-fans alike. K-pop led the conversations…

Bezos’ Blue Origin space flight was insulting to ‘real astronauts,’ some critics charge

Bezos’ Blue Origin flight, featuring celebrities like Katy Perry and Gayle King, has ignited a fierce backlash from critics who argue that the event trivializes the sacrifices and…

UNREAL UNIVERSE | Cosmic Places that Don’t Seem Real

**UNREAL UNIVERSE: A Journey Through Cosmic Wonders**     The universe, a vast expanse filled with complexities and marvels, continues to astonish humanity with its cosmic phenomena and…

Explosive Weapons of War Unveiled | Ancient Aliens

**Explosive Weapons of War Unveiled: Ancient Myths or Advanced Technology?**     The revelations surrounding ancient weaponry and their potential ties to extraterrestrial technology have stirred a whirlwind…