Nothing escapes the black hole, or so we thought. According to new findings from the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, the agency - using the powerful Chandra X-ray Observatory - has seen violent eruptions from a black hole in a nearby galaxy. The outbursts came as two galaxies merge.
"For an analogy, astronomers often refer to black holes as 'eating' stars and gas. Apparently, black holes can also burp after their meal, said UTSA Astrophysicist Eric Schlegel in a recentNASA press release.
How does the discovery change our conception of the celestial phenomena, and what effect might these blast waves have on their galaxies?
Guest:
- Eric Schlegel, Vaughan Family Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Texas San Antonio.