An incredible artist’s depiction reveals the bi-polar jets of gas emerging from a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy, resembling the heart and lungs of these cosmic entities. This discovery sheds light on how galaxies maintain their balance and prevent premature demise.
According to a recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, galaxies possess a mechanism akin to a respiratory system that regulates their growth. Without this control, galaxies would have expanded rapidly, resulting in a universe dominated by lifeless “zombie” galaxies filled with dying stars.
The research conducted by astrophysicists at the University of Kent proposes that galaxies manage their growth rate through a unique “breathing” process. By limiting the amount of gas they absorb for star formation, galaxies prevent themselves from succumbing to the relentless force of gravity and growing uncontrollably.
In this analogy, the supermassive black hole acts as the heart of the galaxy, while the bi-polar jets of gas and radiation represent the lungs. These findings offer a new perspective on the cosmic mysteries surrounding galaxy size and evolution, highlighting the intricate mechanisms that govern their existence.
Published on 2024-07-11 19:15:02
Source: phys.org