6 'quiet' galaxies suddenly become the brightest quasars in the universe

Compared to the short lifespan of humans, we often think that galactic-scale events like this happen extremely slowly over a very long period of time . Those things are not always true.

With an amazing process, these 6 galaxies underwent a great transformation in just a few months. They have turned from quite peaceful galaxies to become the brightest quasars in the universe, operating violently, emitting enormous amounts of radioactivity into space.

This phenomenon is not only special but also helps explain long-standing debates over what has produced the light of certain types of galaxies . In fact, they can tell us more about the previous kind of activity of the galactic nucleus.

The Sombrero Galaxy is an example of a LINER type galaxy.(Photo: NASA).

According to Science Alert, the six galaxies were originally LINER type (low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions) . About one-third of the known galaxies, LINER-type galaxies are brighter than galaxies with supermassive "black holes " in the center but not as bright as active galaxies. called the Seyfert galaxy with supermassive black holes ready to swallow other objects in the universe.

So far, quasars are the brightest active galaxies and they are also the brightest objects of the universe. The radiation of light and sound we see is made up of matter around the black hole known as a accretion disk.

There are many opinions given about exactly what makes light in LINER galaxies. Some astronomers believe it was created by black holes while others say it could be the result of so many stars being born.

However, when a team of astronomers, led by Sara Frederick of the University of Maryland, collected data for nine months at the Zwicky Temporary Facility, they discovered six LINER galaxies in action. Something is wrong.

"Looking at one of these six objects, we initially thought we were observing the tidal disruption, which happens when a star gets too close to a supermassive black hole and then gets' ripped apart, "" Frederick said.

"But then we discovered that the previous" sleeping "black hole was undergoing a change, which led to the creation of an extremely bright quasar. Observing the changes of these 6 galaxies, all are fairly "quiet" LINER galaxies that have helped us identify a whole new layer of galactic nuclei . "

"The change of these six galaxies is so sudden and powerful. That shows us that something different is happening inside them," Frederick added.

"We want to know how this massive amount of gas and dust can start suddenly falling into a black hole. Because we have seen the transition while it was acting," he said. so that opens up many opportunities to compare what the galactic nucleus looks like before and after this transition takes place . "