Astronomers have discovered a unique black hole that stands out from other similar objects.

At the core of every galaxy lies a supermassive black hole. However, astrophysicists have long hoped to find a binary system where two supermassive black holes orbit one another. The theory predicts the existence of such objects at the centers of certain galaxies. Now, astrophysicists from Clemson University, USA, have discovered signs indicating the presence of a binary supermassive black hole, as reported by Space.

Black holes possess the strongest gravitational pull in the universe, meaning that anything that crosses their threshold never escapes. Typical black holes form during the gravitational collapse of massive stars. However, the origins of supermassive black holes, which reside at the centers of galaxies, remain a mystery. It is believed that they arise during the mergers of smaller black holes. There is also a theory suggesting that in the centers of galaxies formed from the collision of two galaxies, binary supermassive black holes may form, held together by their mutual gravity.

Larger and more massive galaxies, such as the Milky Way, have grown through collisions with smaller galaxies. Yet, at the center of our galaxy lies a single supermassive black hole. It is thought that two supermassive black holes, which may exist at the center of a galaxy for millions of years, gradually approach each other and eventually merge to form an even larger black hole.

In this process, such black holes are expected to emit energy in the form of gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of spacetime. These gravitational waves can be detected, but so far, this has not been achieved.

To identify the binary supermassive black hole, astrophysicists studied the light emitted by the active nucleus of the galaxy PG 1553+153. Active nuclei are exceptionally bright due to the presence of a black hole at their center that actively consumes matter. This matter accumulates around the black hole before being absorbed, heating up and emitting bright light. Therefore, active nuclei of galaxies are among the most luminous objects in the universe.

Some active nuclei of galaxies exhibit periodic light signals that brighten, dim, and then brighten again. This unique signal may originate from the cyclical motion of two supermassive black holes. It is such a light signal that astrophysicists believe they have detected in the galaxy PG 1553+153.

Researchers believe that at its center lie two supermassive black holes, one of which is 2.5 times more massive than the other. They orbit each other in nearly circular paths.

At the same time, the authors of the study acknowledge that further data is needed to confirm this discovery. For this, more powerful gravitational wave detectors are required.