The image at the top of the page shows a jet of particles shooting out of the black hole at the center of galaxy M87. ( Avery E. Broderick, University of Waterloo/Perimeter Institute)
Using NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) satellite observatory, the team detected the high-energy x-rays from 5 supermassive black holes previously clouded from direct view by dust and gas. The research, led by astronomers at Durham University, UK, supports the theory that potentially millions more supermassive black holes exist in the Universe, but are hidden from view.
The scientists pointed NuSTAR at 9 candidate hidden supermassive black holes that were thought to be extremely active at the centre of galaxies, but where the full extent of this activity was potentially obscured from view. High-energy x-rays found for 5 of the black holes confirmed that they had been hidden by dust and gas. The 5 were much brighter and more active than previously thought as they rapidly feasted on surrounding material and emitted large amounts of radiation.
Such observations were not possible before NuSTAR, which launched in 2012 and is able to detect much higher energy x-rays than previous satellite observatories. Daniel Stern, the project scientist for NuSTAR at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, added: “High-energy X-rays are more penetrating than low-energy X-rays, so we can see deeper into the gas burying the black holes. NuSTAR allows us to see how big the hidden monsters are and is helping us learn why only some black holes appear obscured.”
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2015/09/buried-supermassive-black-holes-a-huge-number-exist-in-the-universe-weekend-feature.html
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