Unveiling the Hidden Supermassive Black Holes in Star-Birthing Galaxies
Supermassive black holes, known as quasars, can be hidden at the center of star-birthing galaxies behind walls of gas and dust. These quasars, powered by black holes, emit powerful light that can be obscured by the surrounding material. Previous theories suggested that a thick ring of dust close to the black hole could hide the quasar, but new research shows that more distant clouds of dust can also shroud them. The study found that these dusty quasars are often located in starburst galaxies undergoing intense star formation, where the large amounts of gas and dust prevent the quasar's light from escaping. This discovery suggests that there may be more quasars in the universe than previously believed, hidden within galaxies that were thought to lack them.