“This is the first time that we have observed such an event” indicate captivated astronomers.
Black holes are cosmic phenomena as frightening as it is fascinating. Each new discovery on their behavior pushes scientists to rethink our understanding of the universe. Contrary to the widespread idea that the black holes constantly “swallow” matter, these gravitational monsters can spend long periods in a phase of dormancy and inactivity. But lately, one of them showed an unexpected activity, capturing the attention of astronomers.
This black hole is found in the constellation of the Virgin, in the heart of a galaxy located 300 million years light from the earth. The first signs of activity appeared at the end of 2019, when the galaxy nicknamed “Ansky” suddenly started to shine intensely. Then, in February 2024, a team of Chilean researchers began to observe lightning of X -rays at almost regular intervals using powerful telescopes. This phenomenon is called “almost periodic eruption or QPE”. These Ansky X -ray bursts are ten times longer and ten times brighter than we see with a typical Qpe.
“It was the first time that we have observed such an event in a black hole that seems to wake up”explains Lorena Hernández-García, researcher at the University of Valparaiso, Chile, in a press release from the European Space Agency (ESA) in April 2025. Astronomers do not yet understand the cause of this alarm clock suddenly. However, this black hole represents a unique opportunity to examine a black hole in real time and to deepen their understanding of the phenomena linked to the supermassive black holes.
Although it is supermassive and extremely powerful, this black hole is so far from the earth that it represents no threat to our solar system or our planet. Nor can he aspire everything that is near uncontrollable. As a reminder, “falling” into a black hole is not a frequent concern for scientists. In fact, researchers who study black holes are well aware of their dangerousness, but they focus mainly on their behavior and their effects on the universe, and not the personal risk of being victims.
