Dusty black holes could affect galaxy growth, scientists say

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue. New evidence showing that black holes eject dusty matter from their surroundings, potentially affecting the growth of galaxies, has been revealed by an international team of scientists. The researchers used a powerful telescope - with enough resolution to read a road sign in New York from London - to view the black hole at the centre of an active spiral galaxy 150 million light years from Earth. The scientists, including Dr Poshak Gandhi, Department of Physics , found that some of the matter fuelling the black hole was being ejected from its centre via its polar regions in the form of warm dust and spat back out into the galaxy. The general understanding of black holes is that dusty material - made up largely of silicate and graphite grains - is arranged in a flat, doughnut shape, disc and falls into the black hole to fuel it, thereby feeding its growth.