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Cosmic Glutton: Black Hole Devours Matter at Record Speed
23 Feb
Summary
- Ancient black hole ID830 is growing 13 times faster than theoretically possible.
- It already weighed 440 million solar masses shortly after the universe began.
- The black hole emits intensely in both X-rays and radio wavelengths simultaneously.
Astronomers have observed an exceptionally fast-growing supermassive black hole, designated ID830, dating back to the universe's early stages, approximately 12 billion years ago. This object already possessed a mass of 440 million solar masses shortly after the universe's inception.
ID830 is growing at a rate 13 times the theoretical limit, consuming gas and dust faster than previously believed possible. Its unusual multiwavelength behavior, emitting intensely in both X-rays and radio wavelengths simultaneously, further challenges existing models of black hole growth.
Researchers suggest this rapid growth might be due to a collision with a star or gas clump. The unique combination of features challenges theories that predict reduced X-ray emissions and less obvious radio jets during growth spurts. This discovery provides crucial insights into how supermassive black holes formed so rapidly in the early universe.
