The universe may harbor significantly more supermassive black holes than we previously acknowledged, according to recent studies.
Researchers propose that many of these are concealed from our sight – suggesting that our estimates of the number of these swirling voids in our universe might be substantially low.
Astronomers at the University of Southampton assert that 35% of these galactic behemoths – some of which are billions of times more massive than the sun – remain undiscovered due to being shrouded by dense clouds of gas and dust.
This figure had earlier been projected to be approximately 15%.
Professor Poshak Gandhi, a co-author of the research published in the Astrophysical Journal, stated: “Black holes stand as the most enigmatic entities in the cosmos and are ubiquitous – yet our understanding of their evolution is still incomplete.
“Our findings indicate that many additional black holes are hiding in plain sight – obscured by dust and gas that render them invisible to conventional telescopes.
“This marks the first instance where we possess a highly detailed census of black holes expanding by devouring interstellar material around them.”
He further mentioned: “Had there not been a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way galaxy, there might be a greater number of stars visible in the sky.
“This is just one illustration of how black holes can affect a galaxy’s evolution.”
The group of scientists employed data from Nasa’s InfraRed Astronomy Satellite and the X-ray space telescope NuSTAR to scrutinize infrared emissions from clouds enveloping supermassive black holes.
Prof Gandhi noted: “Although black holes themselves are dark, the surrounding gas heats up and shines brightly, making them some of the most luminous objects in the universe.
“Even when concealed, the surrounding dust absorbs and re-emits this light as infrared radiation, disclosing their existence.
“X-rays offer an additional perspective, enabling a glimpse through the obscuring gas, similar to how a medical X-ray allows a doctor to examine our inner bodies.”
The researchers believe that determining the quantity of concealed black holes in comparison to the known ones could aid in comprehending how they attain such massive sizes.
Lead author Dr Peter Boorman, previously with the University of Southampton and now affiliated with Caltech in Pasadena, California, elaborated: “Black holes also impact the galaxies in which they reside – this occurs due to the massive clouds of gas and dust surrounding them and their capacity to absorb vast quantities of material.
“When excessive material approaches a black hole, it begins expelling the surplus back into the galaxy. This can scatter gas clouds within the galaxy where star formation occurs, thereby decreasing the rate of star formation.”
Additional reporting by agencies