Scientists at Curtin University have announced that they have discovered several galaxies in which the intensity of light is changing much faster than expected. According to astronomers, this is most likely due to “baby” supermassive black holes in the center of these galaxies.
Under normal conditions, these young galaxies should change their light intensity very slowly and evenly over a long period of time – more than human life. However, studies show that there are galaxies that change their light within a few years.
Another interesting “behavior” of the young galaxies in question is the rapid change in their radio signal. When analyzed by a radio telescope, young galaxies are blue and brighter at high frequencies. Older galaxies are red and brighter at low frequencies.
The process of switching from blue to red must also be very slow. However, in the case of the observed young galaxies in question, this also happened very quickly.
Scientists have a total of three theories as to why this happens. The simplest explanation is that the light may have been distorted by dust and gases between the galaxy and the telescope.
However, the other two theories are related to the supermassive black holes that are at the center of the observed galaxies. One version is that again the angle of observation plays a role, which is more direct to the black hole, and accordingly the galaxy looks brighter and with more intense changes.
The other explanation is that in these galaxies, black holes are fed by more matter. This will also lead to more intense ejection of parts of it from the black hole and, accordingly, will make the galaxy brighter again.
Scientists plan to use the new generation of radio telescopes, which will gradually enter over the next few years. It will allow a more detailed study of such galaxies, through which scientists can understand whether the processes in young galaxies are not developing much faster than previously thought and what indications the current analysis gives.
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