The supermassive black holes identified in the center of most galaxies can be compared to a heart.
They, through the jets they expel, end up injecting energy and material into the galaxy that hosts them. This has important consequences throughout the evolutionary process of galaxies.
To understand this process, astronomers have decided to study the galaxy NGC 4696, located 145 million light years from Earth and that has a supermassive black hole inside.
Astronomers have studied the galaxy and its black hole using the Chandra Space Telescope, and looking closely at the X-ray emissions from the galaxy.
This galaxy is a giant elliptical galaxy located in the middle of a cluster of galaxies.
By studying the emissions, astronomers have discovered vast cavities in the hot gas that fills the space between the galaxy clusters.
Emissions have also created shock waves that travel through the clump.
The heartbeat of the central galaxy happens every 5 or 10 million years, meaning it is as if this galaxy suffered from cardiac arrhythmia.
This study clearly shows that in addition to influencing the evolution of its host galaxy, the supermassive black hole influences the entire cluster.
These gas cavities and shock waves carry elements from side to side, enrich certain areas with heavier elements, while others, especially those near the black hole, are poor in heavy elements but rich in lighter elements.
In addition, the black hole emissions heat the gas, preventing it from cooling, that is, regulating the star formation process itself.
The symbiotic relationship between a supermassive black hole and a galaxy is one of the great mysteries of astrophysics today.
In addition, it can be seen that this relationship affects not only the galaxy, but the whole environment where it is inserted and even a whole cluster of galaxies.
Really black holes are intriguing and important figures in the entire process of evolution of the universe.
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