Science

Study: Black holes’ effect on star formation is more complicated than we thought

Could a rise in star formation signal the end of a galaxy’s life?

by Robin Bea
ESA/STScl

Scientists believe a supermassive black hole sits at the center of most, if not all, massive galaxies. When such a black hole is active, it’s known as an active galactic nucleus (AGN).

Marc Ward/Stocktrek Images/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

An AGN can emit so much energy as it accretes gas that it outshines the rest of the host galaxy.

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