Astronomers Discover Over 2,400 Active Black Holes, Including Key Missing Intermediate Mass Types

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A recent survey has unveiled an impressive 2,444 active black holes within dwarf galaxies, as reported by astronomers from the University of Utah. Among these, 298 candidates for intermediate mass black holes (IMBH), previously considered a significant missing link in black hole evolution, were identified. This discovery nearly triples the count of known IMBH candidates, providing crucial insights into the formation and growth of these cosmic giants.

According to lead researcher Ragadeepika Pucha, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument allowed astronomers to investigate 114,496 dwarf galaxies, identifying active galactic nuclei that signal black holes consuming surrounding matter. The findings suggest that there might be more low-mass black holes in our universe than previously recognized, indicating a complex relationship between black holes and galaxy evolution.

The research aims to understand mechanisms behind black hole formation and their interaction with host galaxies. The study has been published in The Astrophysical Journal and is expected to stimulate further investigations into these enigmatic entities.

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