Science & Tech · Space · 9 hrs ago
Quasar study finds clues that black holes can wander after galaxy mergers
Some supermassive black holes may move away from galaxy centers after the galaxies merge.
When black holes combine, uneven gravitational waves can give the new black hole a powerful push.
A team led by University of Birmingham researcher Bence Bécsy studied about 100,000 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
Quasars are bright galactic centers powered by black holes feeding on gas.
The researchers found that the fastest-moving black holes were more often in dusty regions, a pattern predicted by earlier computer models.
This is statistical evidence, not confirmation of individual cases, and it may help scientists understand galaxy centers and the effects of gravitational waves.
A study of about 100,000 quasars found statistical evidence that some supermassive black holes may be pushed away from galaxy centers after mergers.
The fastest-moving black holes were more often found in quasars that appeared redder, a sign of greater dust.
Heavily dust-obscured quasars were three times more common among those with the fastest-moving black holes than among those with the slowest-moving ones.
The pattern matches a prediction made in 2016 that displaced black holes should move fastest near dusty galactic centers.
The findings may help researchers understand galactic nuclei and the effects of gravitational waves.
- Who
- A research team led by Dr. Bence Bécsy studied the quasars; the article also quotes Peter Raffai.
- What
- The study found statistical evidence that some supermassive black holes may be displaced from galaxy centers after mergers.
- When
- The study’s publication date is not stated. The article was published on 2026-10-26.
- Where
- The researchers analyzed quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
- Why
- Merging black holes can receive a recoil from gravitational waves, potentially pushing them away from galactic centers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Peter Raffai, Zoltán Haiman and Zsolt Frei made a prediction about the movement of displaced black holes near galactic centers.
Merging black holes can combine, and an uneven release of gravitational waves can give the resulting black hole a recoil.
Earth.com published an article about a study analyzing about 100,000 quasars.
- Quasar sample
- Approximately 100,000 quasars
- Data source
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- Dust difference
- Heavily dust-obscured quasars were three times more common among the fastest-moving black holes than the slowest-moving ones.
- 2016 prediction
- Displaced black holes should move fastest near galactic centers, where dust concentrations are generally higher.
- Study lead
- Dr. Bence Bécsy, assistant professor at the University of Birmingham
What people are saying
We have now detected in real observational data the relationship we predicted years ago. It is difficult to think of a better example of why being a researcher is so rewarding
Our findings may help us understand the processes taking place in galactic nuclei and the role played by Einstein’s gravitational waves in these processes.