A black hole inside a distant spiral galaxy is devouring material from the universe around it and creating winds at speeds never before seen by astronomers.
The European Space Agency said that the black hole inside NGC 3783 has the mass of 30 million suns. The black hole consumes nearby material to power an active galactic nucleus at the center of the galaxy, the ESA said in a news release. The nucleus is "an extremely bright and active region" that sends out powerful jets and winds, the agency said.
One powerful wind was measured at 60,000 kilometers per second, or 130 million piles per hour, about 20% of the speed of light.
"We've not watched a black hole create winds this speedily before," said Liyi Gu at Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON), in a statement. Gu led the international research team. "For the first time, we've seen how a rapid burst of X-ray light from a black hole immediately triggers ultra-fast winds, with these winds forming in just a single day."
Researcher Matteo Guainazzi said the winds around the black hole were created as the nucleus' tangled magnetic field suddenly untwisted, creating something similar to the coronal mass ejections that erupt from the sun "but on a scale almost too big to imagine."
The similarity between black holes and the sun makes "these mysterious objects seem a little less alien," the ESA said. Project scientist Erik Kuulkers said the discovery "suggests that solar and high-energy physics may work in surprisingly familiar ways throughout the universe."
Winds from active galactic nuclei play a role in how the galaxies they are situated within develop, said ESA research fellow Camille Diez. Learning more about the nuclei and how they behave will lead to a better understanding of space, Diez said.
"Because they're so influential, knowing more about the magnetism of AGNs, and how they whip up winds such as these, is key to understanding the history of galaxies throughout the Universe," Diez said.
Republican and Democratic strategists react to Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments on Trump
Marjorie Taylor Greene: The 2025 60 Minutes Interview
Man who died on cruise ship served 33 alcoholic drinks "in a matter of hours," lawsuit alleges
LATEST POSTS
- 1
3 back-to-back storms forecast to bring snow and surges of cold air across the Midwest to the Northeast - 2Share your number one city visit transport that leaves a mark on the world wake up!
- 3Israel strikes Iranian nuclear development facilities, Tehran vows retaliation
- 4Is relief in sight? Flu season still brutal but cases are declining.
- 5I traveled to 13 countries in 2025. This small island nation surprised me the most.
- San Francisco sues 10 companies that make ultraprocessed food
- Climate leaders are talking about 'overshoot' into warming danger zone. Here's what it means
- Discovery of massive spider's web in Greece reveals unexpected behavior
- How to identify animal tracks, burrows and other signs of wildlife in your neighborhood
- Pick Your Number one breakfast food
- A new mom skipped a routine appointment. An infected cut led to a devastating diagnosis
- Pleasant Cycle Courses All over the Planet
- 10 Hints for a Fruitful New employee screening
- A Manual for Nations to Head out To
