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Astronomers Find Hundreds of 'Hidden' Black Holes — and There May Be Trillions More

Published 22/01/2025 às 13:06
Black holes
Photo: NASA

A new discovery has revealed hundreds of previously unknown black holes. Scientists believe there are still trillions out there.

Astronomers have discovered hundreds of black holes supermassive stars hidden in the universe. And the most impressive thing is that there may be billions, or even trillions, of them out there, still hidden.

They were found by observing the universe in infrared light, through clouds of dust and gas. These discoveries help refine theories about the evolution of galaxies.

The search for black holes

Hunting black holes is not easy. They are the darkest objects in the universe. Not even light escapes their pull. But sometimes scientists can “see them” when they devour matter.

The surrounding material spins so fast that it glows. But not all of it glows like that. Many remain invisible, requiring more creative techniques to find.

Scientists believe there are billions, perhaps trillions, of supermassive black holes scattered throughout the cosmos.

Most of them are thought to be in the centers of galaxies. But counting every single one is impossible. Instead, astronomers look at nearby galaxies to make estimates.

The problem is that many black holes go unnoticed. Some are hidden by clouds of gas and dust, while others are simply at the wrong angle to be detected.

Recent study

Recently, a study published in the Astrophysical Journal revealed that about 35% of supermassive black holes are hidden.

Previously, only 15 percent was believed to be hidden, but scientists suggest the real percentage could be even higher, reaching 50 percent.

To overcome these challenges, astronomers are looking for new ways to find them. The clouds around these hidden black holes emit infrared light, invisible to the human eye but detectable with special equipment.

In the study, scientists used data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) da NASA and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR).

IRAS, launched in 1983, was the first space telescope to observe the cosmos in infrared light. NuSTAR, operated by NASA, detects high-energy X-rays emitted by matter orbiting black holes.

With data from IRAS, hundreds of hidden black holes were identified. Ground-based visible-light telescopes and NuSTAR later helped confirm or rule out these candidates. 3 Some of these detections were star-forming galaxies, but many were in fact hidden black holes.

"It's amazing how useful IRAS and NuSTAR were, even though IRAS only operated for 10 months over 40 years ago.“, said Peter Boorman, one of the study’s authors and an astrophysicist at Caltech.

The new infrared detection technique could help understand how many supermassive black holes there are in the universe and the role they play in the evolution of galaxies.

They could limit galactic growth by pulling everything toward the gravitational center. Or they could consume vast amounts of dust, preventing new stars from forming. The discovery could even help us better understand the heart of our Milky Way.

According to Poshak Gandhi, professor of astrophysics at the University of Southampton, “If we didn't have a supermassive black hole in the Milky Way, we could have a lot more stars in the sky.“That is, these hidden giants shape the cosmos in profound and unexpected ways.

Its importance

Supermassive black holes are considered essential elements in understanding the universe. They influence how galaxies grow and transform.

Knowing where they are and how they work is essential to advancing scientific knowledge.

Finding them, however, is an ongoing challenge. Scientists continue to improve their techniques and hope that future missions will provide more data to solve the mystery of hidden black holes.

New, more powerful and sensitive telescopes promise to reveal even more secrets hidden in the universe.

Despite being invisible to the naked eye, these black holes are everywhere, playing a crucial role in cosmic dynamics.

Each new discovery adds more pieces to the puzzle of the universe, showing that there is still much to be learned.

The research continues. Astronomers continue to scour the skies for these invisible giants, using innovative techniques and international collaborations. The universe is full of mysteries, and black holes are one of the most fascinating.

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Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Journalist specializing in a wide range of topics, such as cars, technology, politics, shipbuilding, geopolitics, renewable energy and economics. I have been working since 2015 with prominent publications in major news portals. My degree in Information Technology Management from Faculdade de Petrolina (Facape) adds a unique technical perspective to my analyses and reports. With over 10 thousand articles published in renowned media outlets, I always seek to bring detailed information and relevant insights to the reader. For story suggestions or any questions, please contact me by email at flclucas@hotmail.com.

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