DESI Survey Reveals Largest Collection of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes and Active Galactic Nuclei in Dwarf Galaxies

The groundbreaking data includes 300 intermediate-mass black hole candidates and 2,500 active black holes in dwarf galaxies, reshaping our understanding of black hole evolution.

Scientists using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) identified 300 intermediate-mass black hole candidates, tripling the previously known total.
The survey also uncovered 2,500 dwarf galaxies hosting active galactic nuclei, significantly increasing the known fraction of such galaxies to 2.1%.
Intermediate-mass black holes, often considered the 'missing link' in black hole evolution, are key to understanding how supermassive black holes form and grow.
DESI's advanced design, including its small fiber size, enabled researchers to detect subtle black hole activity with unprecedented precision.
The findings challenge existing theories about the co-evolution of black holes and galaxies, as many intermediate-mass black holes were found outside dwarf galaxies.