Observations and Discoveries
Astronomers observed the supermassive black hole 1ES 1927+654, 270 million light-years away, emit jets of ultrahot gas and X-rays, marking the first real-time observation of a black hole "activating."
A white dwarf star may be orbiting dangerously close to the black hole, shedding its outer layers and triggering X-ray pulses, a scenario that suggests the star could resist being swallowed.
Research and Implications
The black hole's activity increased significantly in 2023, with new radio flares and plasma jets observed, providing insights into the formation of such jets around supermassive black holes.
These findings, presented at an meeting and detailed in , could enhance understanding of black hole behavior and their interactions with nearby stars and material.