Astronomers Uncover How Black Holes Sustain Themselves Through Gas Cooling Cycles

New research reveals that black hole outbursts trigger a self-sustaining cycle of gas cooling and feeding, advancing our understanding of galaxy formation.

Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) show black holes can cool surrounding gas to fuel themselves.
The study examined seven galaxy clusters, including Perseus and Centaurus, revealing filaments of hot and warm gas linked to black hole activity.
Black hole outbursts cool hot gas into warm filaments, some of which flow back into the black hole, creating a feedback loop of feeding and cooling.
Researchers confirmed a correlation between the brightness of hot and warm gas, supporting the model of this self-sustaining process.
The findings also connect gas filaments in galaxy clusters to processes observed in jellyfish galaxies, suggesting a shared cosmic mechanism.