The Black Hole That Kills Galaxies - Quasars
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell・1 minute read
Quasars, powered by supermassive black holes, emit vast amounts of energy through consuming gas and can impact galaxies by halting star formation and pushing out gas. The Milky Way may have experienced a quasar phase previously, and its supermassive black hole could potentially become a quasar in the future.
Insights
- Quasars are immensely powerful objects fueled by supermassive black holes, emitting energy exceeding that of stars and shaping the universe through the formation of massive jets of matter.
- The intergalactic medium, containing hydrogen and helium, plays a crucial role in the existence and function of quasars, which can impact their host galaxies by halting star formation and expelling gas.
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Recent questions
What are quasars?
Quasars are powerful objects in galaxies' centers.
How do quasars affect galaxies?
Quasars can heat up galaxies and stop star formation.
How are quasars powered?
Quasars are powered by supermassive black holes.
What is the intergalactic medium?
The intergalactic medium contains hydrogen and helium.
What role do quasars play in the universe?
Quasars shape the universe by emitting powerful energy.
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Summary
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"Quasars: Powerful Objects Shaping the Universe"
- The universe is not just galaxies but also the intergalactic medium where hydrogen and helium are found.
- Quasars are incredibly powerful objects residing in some galaxies' centers, shining with the power of a trillion stars.
- Quasars were discovered in the 1950s, emitting high energy X-rays and moving at high speeds.
- Quasars are powered by supermassive black holes, which convert matter into energy more efficiently than stars.
- Quasars consume vast amounts of gas, releasing energy that can be 60 times greater than nuclear fusion in stars.
- Quasars can shape the universe by forming jets of matter that grow to hundreds of thousands of lightyears in size.
- Quasars can ultimately affect their galaxies by heating them up, stopping star formation, and pushing gas out.
- The Milky Way may have had a quasar phase in the past, and its supermassive black hole could potentially turn into a quasar in the future.
