Snapshot 2:Wed, Jun 19, 2024 7:51:50 PM GMT last edited by Brian

Astronomers Discover a Black Hole 'Waking Up'

Published JUN 19 2024

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Above: In this handout from NASA/ESA, an artist's concept illustrates a quasar, or feeding black hole. Image credit: Pool/Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Spin

Thanks to high-tech telescopes, scientists have been able to discover black holes, monitor their jets of electrons, and now observe their illumination of galaxies. As black holes have now been discovered in almost every galaxy, scientists will next be able to connect these mysterious phenomena to the creation of galaxies themselves.

Esahubble

Despite the recent increase in observations of black holes spotlighting galaxies through their emission of radiation, fears that their growth could one day engulf the Earth are overblown. These celestial phenomena are amazing to observe and read about, but they're certainly not the outer space vacuum cleaners some claim they are.

Mashable

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 70% chance that gravitational waves from the merger of supermassive black holes will be detected by November 30, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.