Scientists Witness Dormant Supermassive Black Hole Roar to Life

Scientists Witness Dormant Supermassive Black Hole Roar to Life
An undated artist's impression shows the growing disc of material being pulled in by the black hole as it feeds on the gas available in its surroundings, making the galaxy SDSS1335+0728 light up. ESO/M. Kornmesser/Handout via Reuters
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WASHINGTON—At the center of the Milky Way galaxy resides a supermassive black hole four million times the mass of our sun called Sagittarius A* that some scientists have called a gentle giant because of its quiescence. But someday it could become a beast.

Researchers said on Tuesday they have observed in real time a dramatic brightening at the heart of another galaxy apparently caused by a supermassive black hole awakening from dormancy and beginning to gorge itself with nearby material. It marks the first time this awakening process has been seen as it happens.