Scientists have uncovered a supermassive black hole at the core of a svelte, spiral galaxy, a finding that questions a recently devised rule of thumb in which only galaxies with bulging cores have such black holes.
Originally posted by (Q)
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/04/10_skinny.shtml
What kind of changes to our "rule of thumb" can we expect from this finding?
A "skinny galaxy" refers to a galaxy that has a thin and elongated shape, as opposed to a more spherical or oval shape.
A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. This is due to the extreme concentration of mass in a small area.
Scientists can detect a black hole at the core of a galaxy through various methods, including observing the movement of stars and gas around the center of the galaxy, analyzing the emission of radiation from the black hole, and studying the effects of the black hole on its surrounding environment.
The discovery of a massive black hole at the core of a skinny galaxy is significant because it challenges current theories of galaxy formation and evolution. It also provides insights into the relationship between black holes and the shape of galaxies.
This discovery suggests that the presence of a massive black hole may play a larger role in shaping the structure of galaxies than previously thought. It also raises questions about the formation and evolution of galaxies and the role of black holes in these processes.