Galactic Oddities: Unveiling the Enigma of Dual Supermassive Black Holes
Astronomers have discovered that some blazars, bright active galactic nuclei, may contain double supermassive black holes at their cores. The presence of a binary black hole system can cause the jets emitted by one black hole to appear curved and snaky, and can also lead to periodic changes in brightness. By studying an object called OJ 287, researchers found evidence of two black holes in its core, supporting the idea of binary black holes in other blazars. This discovery could help astronomers probe for other binary black holes and gain a better understanding of the inner workings of these black hole systems.