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Our galaxy's supermassive black hole has sprung a leak
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Our galaxy's supermassive black hole has sprung a leak

Scientists believe that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way may be leaking radiation and particles.

Science & Tech

The supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy may not be sleeping, after all.

Previously, scientists believed that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way was a sleeping giant. It would periodically awaken to devour any star of gas clouds that fell into it. It would then release radiation and particles into space in a long plume or jet of energy.

Scientists believe that the biggest outburst from the black hole came around two million years ago. However, new evidence has been found that the outburst could still be active.

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The Hubble telescope has discovered circumstantial evidence that the black hole is still smoldering after the outburst two million years ago. Astronomers are currently investigating the data that Hubble has found. That data includes a photograph of a bright knot of gas that Hubble captured around 15 light-years away from the black hole. Based on the information, an invisible plume appears to have impacted the gas.

Hubble hasn’t managed to telescope the jet just yet, so NASA is referring to it as a “phantom jet”. However, based on the evidence, scientists believe that it could be a blowtorch-like plume of energy that dates back several thousand years.