Supermassive black hole
Coverage of Supermassive black hole in the Nexus archive.
- We’ve found the best example yet of an enormous wandering black hole
Astronomers discovered a supermassive black hole moving away from the center of its galaxy by observing light emitted from a star being torn apart. The finding provides an example of a wandering black hole detected through this method.
- X-ray spacecraft finds supermassive black hole stirring up the 'red potato' galaxy: 'There may be a cook in this cosmic kitchen'
An X-ray spacecraft has discovered a supermassive black hole influencing the 'red potato' galaxy. The black hole's activity is metaphorically described as a 'cook in this cosmic kitchen', suggesting significant astrophysical processes at work.
- NASA’s Chandra Observatory spots possible supernova remnant in the middle of our galaxy
NASA’s Chandra Observatory has detected a possible supernova remnant near the center of the Milky Way. If confirmed, the remnant would be among the closest to the supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s core.
- Hubble captures M88 on a perilous journey that could change it forever
Messier 88, a spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, is moving through the cluster, leading to the potential loss of gas necessary for star formation. It has a supermassive black hole and spiral arms with young star clusters and dust clouds. The process over the next few hundred million years will reshape the galaxy.
- NASA’s Hubble captures gorgeous new photo of a spiral galaxy as it wanders through the Virgo Cluster
NASA’s Hubble telescope captured a new image of the spiral galaxy Messier 88 in the Virgo Cluster. The galaxy is active, with its central supermassive black hole consuming gas and dust.
- "Little red dot" in early Universe is a naked supermassive black hole
The James Webb Space Telescope discovered a 'little red dot' in the early Universe, confirmed as a supermassive black hole with minimal surrounding galaxy. Gravitational lensing magnified Abell 2744−QSO1, revealing it as it appeared 700 million years after the Big Bang.
- James Webb telescope spots supermassive black hole that formed before its galaxy
The James Webb Space Telescope discovered a supermassive black hole that formed before its galaxy, challenging existing theories about the co-evolution of black holes and galaxies. This finding could reshape understanding of how these astronomical bodies develop.
- A star gone rogue tears through the Galaxy
A Sun-like star has been ejected from the Milky Way's center at hypervelocity speeds by the supermassive black hole located there. This dramatic gravitational interaction demonstrates the powerful effects of black holes on nearby stellar objects. The discovery was published in Nature in May 2026.
- James Webb Space Telescope's strange little red dots may really be 'black hole stars', X-ray data suggests
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected strange red dots that may represent 'black hole stars'—a hybrid of stars and black holes. X-ray data supports the hypothesis that these objects contain supermassive black holes at their cores.
- Black hole wakes after 100 million years and erupts like a cosmic volcano
A supermassive black hole in galaxy J1007+3540 has erupted after 100 million years of dormancy, sending jets into a galaxy cluster. The event, captured by astronomers, created a chaotic structure stretching nearly a million light-years.
- Galaxy starves its supermassive black hole, loses 95% of its brightness
A galaxy's supermassive black hole has lost 95% of its brightness after its food supply was cut off, transitioning from a bright feeding phase to a dimmed state. The study highlights the dramatic impact of starvation on a supermassive black hole's luminosity.