"Dancing Black Holes: Unraveling the Mystery of Supermassive Hiccups"

Astronomers have observed a supermassive black hole experiencing periodic eruptions, which are believed to be caused by a smaller black hole diving through its accretion disk. This behavior challenges the conventional understanding of black hole accretion disks and suggests the presence of exotic components such as stars and smaller black holes. The eruptions were triggered by a star being shredded in a tidal disruption event, leading to a sudden influx of matter that brightened the accretion disk. The findings, published in Science Advances, could help astronomers better understand supermassive black holes and their environments.