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Why Some Supermassive Black Holes Have Big Jets

astroengine writes "Some of the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies have powerful jets blasting from their poles, and others have weak jets, but many don't have jets at all. Why is this the case? In new simulations carried out by astronomers at NASA and MIT, it would appear that the way in which the black hole spins relative to its accretion disk may be a contributing factor. Strangely enough, the results indicate that if the black hole rotates in the opposite direction to its accretion disk, the most powerful jets form. The region between the black hole event horizon and the accretion disk still baffles scientists, so these simulations are very speculative, but the results seem to match what radio astronomers are seeing in the cores of active galaxies. Perhaps it's time to fire up that event horizon telescope!"

5 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. are the jets tied to near by stargates? by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 3, Funny

    are the jets tied to near by stargates?

  2. I found this article absorbing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was completely sucked in.

  3. Re:Are they jets or starships... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Are they jets or starships... ...and why do they need them?

    I was wondering the same thing the first time I saw Xenu's fleet. As to their purpose, ask Tom Cruise.

  4. What's the big deal? by The+Grim+Reefer2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some of the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies have powerful jets blasting from their poles, and others have weak jets, but many don't have jets at all.

    Some black holes are in a bigger hurry than others, hence bigger jets. While the ones that don't have jets are more concerned about the environment and galactic warming so they use public transportation.

  5. Re:Here's a silly question by Reilaos · · Score: 3, Funny

    Or at least the mass that was you reaches the Singularity. You probably don't, as you are most likely dead.