New Research of Black Holes in Space

ANN ARBOR, MICH (WXYZ) - Thanks to a University of Michigan astronomer and a deep space X-ray photo, we now know more about our universe.

The deepest X-ray picture ever taken has given us the first real proof that large black holes existed in the early years of what we call space.

The research shows that younger black holes were more common that first thought.

The study at NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory over a 6 week period observed what is known as the Chandra Deep Field South. When using deep optical and infrared images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the new Chandra data permitted a search for black holes in 200 distant galaxies estimated to be 800 million to 950 million years old.

Lead author of the research from the University of Hawaii Ezequiel Treister says, "Until now, we had no idea what the black holes in these early galaxies were doing---or if they even existed. Now we know they are there and they are growing like gangbusters."

It's the use of the X-ray that allowed the black holes to be studied. The rays could cut through the clouds of gas and dust that is usually problematic for regular telescopes.

University of Michigan Associate professor of Astronomy and co-author of the study, Marta Volenteri, says, "We had reason to expect that black holes existed in many of the very first galaxies, but they had evaded our searches until now."

This is important because in the ongoing study of black holes there is some evidence showing they grow with galaxies, but this now shows that this growth starts earlier that it was thought. It may even start at the point of origin.

For more pictures and information, go to: http:// www.nasa.gov/chandra