Observations of the gas consumption of a black hole have provided a more complex understanding of cosmic phenomena.
(CN) – Black holes are big eaters on an extragalactic scale. No other known interstellar entity comes close to absorbing as much matter as these astronomical bodies can, thanks to their response to the all-governing forces of time and space as flexible cues.
But a new study from the University of Warwick shows that black holes may be stranger and more bloated when consuming matter than previously thought.
Astronomer Noel Castro Segura led researchers in observing the black hole system Swift J1727.8−1613, which was discovered in 2023 after it released an “explosion,” or an ejection of light and matter on a massive scale.
Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, located in northern Chile, allowed Segura’s team to carefully analyze this burst, which lasted 10 months, according to a previous research study by Spanish astrophysicists.
During that time, Swift J1727.8−1613 fed a nearby star, pulling in and consuming gas. But it also expelled a lot of that material—potentially close to the same amount it actually consumed—back into space as powerful jets and winds.
Astronomers claim that this form of ejection of matter occurs especially inside “faint”, lower-activity black holes.
“People often imagine black holes just swallowing everything around them,” Castro Segura said. “What we’re seeing is a much more complex process. Matter falls in, the system processes it, and a surprising amount is expelled again.”
The findings come with apparent comic relief, since the fact that black holes can apparently pass gas is something science journalists and school trips can surely enjoy.
Most importantly, however, the study increases humanity’s understanding of the universe’s most elusive celestial objects.
A key discovery came after the outburst of Swift J1727.8−1613, which created a bright and dramatic light show for scientists looking through telescopes, had largely subsided. The black hole was still emitting gas, even at about 1% of its maximum activity.
“If black holes can continue to spew material even after their biggest explosions, it means they may be much less efficient eaters than we previously assumed. A significant portion of the meal may never reach the black hole at all, changing our understanding of how binary stars evolve in galaxies,” said Castro Segura.
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