Black Hole Jets can impact Star Formation in Galaxies

In a study published on September 25, 2026, scientists identified a potential mechanism through which jets from supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies can affect distant gas and suppress star formation.

Key Facts

Research: The study was conducted by scientists from various institutions, including the Raman Research Institute (RRI)—an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology—and Arizona State University in the US.
Key Finding: Powerful plasma jets emanating from black holes can heat and ionize the gas in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) surrounding the galaxy.
Impact on Star Formation: Cold gas condenses to form stars, but the energy and turbulence introduced by the jets can disrupt this condensation, thereby suppressing star formation.
Directional Signal: Researchers did not observe an equal signal in all directions; rather, a stronger signal was detected along the path of the black hole jet, indicating that the jet primarily affects gas directly in its trajectory.