You don’t
have to know a whole lot about science to know that black holes normally suck
things in, not spew things out.
have to know a whole lot about science to know that black holes normally suck
things in, not spew things out.
But NASA detected something mighty bizarre at
the supermassive black hole Markarian 335. Two of NASA’s space telescopes,
including the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), amazingly
observed a black hole’s corona “launched” away from the supermassive black
hole.
the supermassive black hole Markarian 335. Two of NASA’s space telescopes,
including the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), amazingly
observed a black hole’s corona “launched” away from the supermassive black
hole.
Then an
enormous pulse of X-ray energy spewed out. This kind of phenomena has never
been observed before.
enormous pulse of X-ray energy spewed out. This kind of phenomena has never
been observed before.
“This is the
first time we have been able to link the launching of the corona to a flare.
This will help us comprehend how supermassive black holes power some of the
brightest objects in the cosmos.” Dan Wilkins, of Saint Mary’s University,
said.
NuSTAR’s
principal investigator, Fiona Harrison, noted that the nature of the energetic
source was “enigmatic,” but added that the capability to in fact record the
event should have provided some clues about the black hole’s size and
structure, along with (hopefully) some fresh info on how black holes work.
Fortunately for us, this black hole is still 324 million light-years away.
principal investigator, Fiona Harrison, noted that the nature of the energetic
source was “enigmatic,” but added that the capability to in fact record the
event should have provided some clues about the black hole’s size and
structure, along with (hopefully) some fresh info on how black holes work.
Fortunately for us, this black hole is still 324 million light-years away.
So, no
matter what bizarre things it was doing, it shouldn’t had any effect on our
corner of the cosmos.
matter what bizarre things it was doing, it shouldn’t had any effect on our
corner of the cosmos.
While we
like to think we have a fairly good understanding of space, much of what we
count as knowledge is just theory which has yet to be disproved. So it looks
like some textbooks will need to be rewritten. And while this particular
supermassive black hole is 324 million light-years away, I’m not taking any
chances.
like to think we have a fairly good understanding of space, much of what we
count as knowledge is just theory which has yet to be disproved. So it looks
like some textbooks will need to be rewritten. And while this particular
supermassive black hole is 324 million light-years away, I’m not taking any
chances.
Source: NASA
