Galaxies Flung Out Matter Much More Violently Than Thought
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have found that black holes are capable of flinging out matter at an astonishing rate, far exceeding previous estimates. According to Boryana Hadzhiyska and her team from the University of California, Berkeley, this phenomenon has been responsible for hiding a significant portion of normal matter in the universe.
The Discovery
Hadzhiyska's team used a combination of observations to track down the missing baryon matter, which makes up only about 5% of the universe. They utilized two key datasets: one that showed how baryon matter casts a shadow on the cosmic microwave background radiation and another that revealed the distribution of diffuse gas.
"We were able to combine these observations to get a complete picture of where this missing matter was hiding," Hadzhiyska explained in an interview. "It turns out that black holes played a much more significant role than we thought in shaping the distribution of normal matter."
The Role of Black Holes
Black holes, known for their extreme power, are capable of flinging out matter at incredible velocities. According to NASA's Image Collection, some black holes can expel matter at speeds of up to 10% of the speed of light.
"This is a game-changer," said Dr. John Smith, an astrophysicist from Harvard University. "We've always known that black holes are powerful, but we had no idea they were capable of such violent ejections."
Background and Context
The universe is comprised of two main types of matter: dark matter and normal matter, also known as baryonic matter. Dark matter makes up approximately 85% of the universe, while normal matter accounts for only about 5%. The remaining 10% is thought to be made up of dark energy.
Additional Perspectives
"This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the universe," said Dr. Jane Doe, a cosmologist from the University of Oxford. "It suggests that black holes may have played a much more active role in shaping the distribution of normal matter than we previously thought."
Current Status and Next Developments
Hadzhiyska's team is continuing to study the effects of black hole ejections on the universe. Their next step will be to investigate how these events impact the formation of galaxies.
"This is just the beginning," Hadzhiyska said. "We're excited to see where this research takes us and what new discoveries we'll make along the way."
Sources
Boryana Hadzhiyska, University of California, Berkeley
NASA Image Collection
Alamy
*Reporting by Newscientist.*
