Topic: Research News
Scientists found that black holes can affect gas in galaxies beyond their visible edges. A new study led by Sanchayeeta Borthakur and Namrata Roy discovered that narrow jets of heated plasma from supermassive black holes can disrupt the gas needed for star formation.
Galaxies are huge, containing hundreds of billions of stars. They have a big envelope of gas called the circumgalactic medium (CGM) surrounding them. This reservoir of raw material is 10-20 times bigger than the visible part of the galaxy.
The CGM plays a key role in shaping stars, planets, and even life within a galaxy. However, astronomers were puzzled by why galaxies don't have more stars despite having so much gas to form them. A new study led by Sanchayeeta Borthakur of Arizona State University (ASU) and Namrata Roy, now at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), found evidence that narrow jets of heated plasma blasted out by supermassive black holes can affect gas beyond the visible galaxy.
The jets may disrupt the gas needed for star formation. This research is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. Sanchayeeta Borthakur said,
Implications
Scientists found that black holes can affect gas in galaxies beyond their visible edges. A new study led by Sanchayeeta Borthakur and Namrata Roy discovered that narrow jets of heated plasma from supermassive black holes can disrupt the gas needed for star formation.
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