Black Hole

January 24, 2026 3 min read Add Us On Google Add SciAm Radio images captured this “cosmic volcano” being reborn at the heart of the galaxy J1007+3540 By K. R. Callaway edited by Lee Billings After 100 million years of dormancy, the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy…

An international team of astronomers led by researchers from Waseda University and Tohoku University has identified an unusual quasar in the early Universe that contains one of the fastest-growing supermassive black holes known for its size. Data from the Subaru Telescope show a surprising mix of traits. The quasar is…

New state-of-the-art simulations by Maynooth University astronomers show that in the dense, turbulent dawn of the cosmos, ‘light seed’ black holes could rapidly swallow matter and rival the colossal black holes seen in the center of early galaxies. Computer visualization showing baby black holes growing in a young galaxy in…

Black holes in the early Universe appear to have grown far faster than scientists once believed. Astronomers have long struggled to explain how black holes became enormous so early in the Universe’s history. Observations show that some reached supermassive proportions in a cosmic blink of an eye...Read More

This artist’s rendering illustrates a precessing jet erupting from the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy VV 340a. (Image credit: W. M. Keck Observatory / Adam Makarenko) It's a well-known fact that supermassive black holes (SMBH) play a vital role in the evolution of galaxies. Their powerful gravity…

Primordial black holes could rewrite our understanding of dark matter and the early universe. A record-breaking detection at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea has some physicists wondering if we just spotted one. Strings of optical modules like this make up the underwater KM3NET neutrino detector. Courtesy of KM3NET Introduction…

At the heart of our own galaxy, there is a dense thicket of stars with a supermassive black hole at the very center. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will provide the deepest-ever view of this zone, revealing stars, planets, and unique objects that resist definition. Based on the input…

Seen as a ribbon of red radio emissions, a gigantic energy jet blasting out of a supermassive black hole tells the story of a reawakened monster. (Image credit: LOFAR/Pan-STARRS/S. Kumari et al.) Scientists have observed a supermassive black hole waking up from a nearly 100 million-year nap. The black hole…

Inspired by a technique that allowed astronomers to image a black hole, scientists at the University of Connecticut developed a lens-free image sensor that achieves sub-micron 3D resolution, promising to transform fields from forensics to remote sensing. Operating principle and implementation of MASI. Image credit: Wang et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65661-8.…

This artist’s concept depicts the central engine of the Circinus galaxy, visualizing the supermassive black hole fed by a thick, dusty torus that glows in infrared light.  (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)) The James Webb Space Telescope has delivered its clearest view yet of a supermassive black…