An ancient black hole. It breathes wind that destroys entire galaxies
Astronomers have just discovered destructive winds capable of destroying entire galaxies. It turns out that they are blown out at dizzying speed by one of the oldest black holes in the universe.
Destructive wind 6000x faster than the speed of sound
The quasar is named J1007+2115 is a type of supermassive black hole and not just any kind. This is the oldest (700 million years after the Big Bang) recorded case of a black hole that produces powerful, destructive winds capable of destroying entire galaxies. This phenomenon was detected by a group of researchers from the University of Arizona using the James Webb Telescope.
These winds they span an astonishing distance of 7,500 light yearswhich is like putting 25 solar systems next to each other, one after the other. The amount of material carried by the winds from this black hole is the equivalent of 300 Suns. Interestingly, the host galaxy of this quasar produces stars with masses ranging from 80 to 250 solar masses every year.
Quasar J1007+2115 produces winds at a speed 6,000 times faster than the speed of sound (7.6 million km/h), and at the same time deprives its own galaxy of the material needed for the birth of new stars, de facto killing the host galaxy.
Where did the winds come from? They are the result producing powerful radiation around the active galactic nucleus (at the center of which is a supermassive black hole), which in the case of a quasar produces a brightness greater than all the stars in the galaxy combined. The action of an active galactic nucleus also results in the repulsion of matter such as gases and star dust.
The activity of quasar J1007+2115 may indicate that its host galaxy is now dead.
