A study revealed how black-hole-powered quasars killed off neighboring galaxies in the early universe. This discovery has amazed astronomers and space enthusiasts alike.
Supermassive black holes are the source of quasars, which are very brilliant objects. The mass of these black holes is millions or perhaps billions of times that of the Sun. Quasars shine so brightly that they can outshine entire galaxies. But their brightness comes with a dark side.
In the early universe, quasars were not good neighbors. They blasted out intense radiation and powerful winds. This radiation and wind were so strong that they could stop nearby galaxies from forming new stars. Without new stars, these galaxies couldn’t grow and thrive. Instead, they slowly faded away, becoming too small and dim to see.
Astronomers used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) to study a quasar called VIK 2348–3054. This quasar is about 12.8 billion light-years away from Earth. The DECam, mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope in Chile, has a wide field of view. This allowed astronomers to see a large area around the quasar.
The team found that the quasar’s radiation was cutting off star formation in nearby galaxies. These galaxies were packed tightly around the quasar, but they couldn’t grow because of the quasar’s powerful radiation. This finding helps explain why some studies show galaxies and quasars packed together, while others show a lack of companion galaxies around quasars.
Among the universe’s brightest objects are quasars. Supermassive black holes at their cores provide them with energy. These black holes pull in gas and dust, which heats up and emits intense light. This light can be seen across vast distances, making quasars visible even from billions of light-years away.
The study of VIK 2348–3054 showed that quasars were “noisy neighbors.” Their radiation was so powerful that it could stop star formation in nearby galaxies. This means that quasars were not just bright beacons in the early universe. They were also cosmic killers, wiping out their neighbors.
The researchers used a special filter on the DECam to focus on the quasar’s surrounding galaxies. This filter allowed them to see the galaxies that were being affected by the quasar’s radiation. They found that these galaxies were too small and dim to be seen in previous studies. This new finding helps explain why some studies showed a lack of companion galaxies around quasars.
Quasars are fascinating objects. They are powered by supermassive black holes, which are some of the most mysterious objects in the universe. Not even light can escape these black holes due to their very powerful gravitational pull. When gas and dust fall into a black hole, they heat up and emit intense light. This light is what makes quasars so bright.
The study of VIK 2348–3054 is a major breakthrough in our understanding of quasars and their impact on the early universe. It shows that quasars were not just bright objects. They were also powerful forces that could stop star formation in nearby galaxies. This finding helps us understand how the early universe evolved and why some galaxies failed to grow.
Quasars are still a mystery in many ways. Scientists are still trying to understand how they form and how they evolve. But this new study gives us a glimpse into the powerful impact that quasars had on their surroundings. It shows that quasars were not just passive objects. They were active forces that could shape the fate of nearby galaxies.
