Astronomers have discovered hundreds of hidden black holes and believe there could be billions more lurking in the universe, changing our understanding of galaxies.
These black holes are tricky to find. Sometimes, they light up when they gobble up nearby matter. But not all of them have that bright glow. So, scientists have to get creative to locate them.
They believe there are possibly trillions of supermassive black holes scattered across the universe. Most large galaxies likely have one at their center. Counting them all is tough, though. Instead, astronomers survey nearby galaxies to estimate how many hidden black holes are around.
Some black holes are easy to see because of the bright matter surrounding them. Others are hidden behind clouds of gas and dust. A recent study found that about 35% of supermassive black holes are hidden this way, a big jump from the previous estimate of 15%.
Using data from NASA’s Infrared Astronomical Satellite and other telescopes, researchers discovered hundreds of potential hidden black holes. They confirmed many of these findings with ground-based telescopes. This new method could help scientists understand how often these black holes exist and their role in galaxy formation.
One researcher noted that without a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way, we might see many more stars in the sky. Isn’t that fascinating?
