Scientists discovered rare black hole jets in galaxy J2345-0449

Scientists have found a "very rare" black hole energy jet in a galaxy similar to our own. This giant spiral galaxy, named J2345-0449, is almost a billion light-years away and is three times the size of the Milky Way. At its center is a supermassive black hole that produces powerful radio jets. These jets are streams of fast-moving particles that radiate energy, extending over 5 million light-years. The study, published on March 20, suggests these strong radio jets could help explain the formation of giant spiral galaxies. Patrick Ogle, an astronomer not involved in the study, noted that such powerful jets are usually found in massive elliptical galaxies, not spiral ones. He explained that creating these jets likely requires a very massive and fast-spinning black hole, which most spiral galaxies lack. Data from the Hubble Space Telescope and other instruments show that the radio jets prevent star formation near the center of J2345-0449. The jets heat nearby gases too much, stopping them from collapsing into new stars or pushing them out of the galaxy. Despite both being spiral galaxies, the Milky Way is unlikely to show similar powerful jets. Ogle pointed out that our black hole, Sagittarius A*, is probably too small for such jets. Researching galaxies like J2345-0449 may offer insights into the growth of supermassive black holes and how they relate to their host galaxies. The study hints that the black hole and its galaxy may have developed together in isolation rather than through galaxy mergers. Understanding these unique galaxies could reveal important information about the forces shaping the universe. Shankar Ray, a co-author of the study, emphasized that these discoveries remind us that the cosmos still holds many secrets.