Black holes of every size follow the same surprising rule
Astronomers have discovered a universal rule governing black hole behavior: black holes of all sizes, from stellar-mass to supermassive, launch powerful jets at the same critical stage of their feeding cycle. This finding helps explain why some black holes immediately produce jets after consuming a star, while others delay.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a fundamental insight into the physics of black holes, enhancing our understanding of how these cosmic giants interact with their environment and expel matter, which is crucial for astrophysics.
An international team of astronomers co-led by an IAS scholar has identified what appears to be a universal rule governing one of the most dramatic behaviors of black holes: the production of powerful jets.
The researchers found that black holes can launch jets at the same critical stage of their feeding cycle, regardless of their size. That includes "stellar-mass" black holes about ten times the mass of our sun as well as supermassive black holes that are millions of times heavier.
The work was carried out by Andrew Mummery, Martin A. and Helen Chooljian Member (2025-30) in the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study, and Adelle Goodwin, a Forrest Research Foundation Fellow at Curtin University's International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research in Western Australia.
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