Astronomers have observed a quasar fueled by a supermassive black hole that likely played a key role in ending the ‘cosmic dark ages,’ a period of darkness after the formation of the universe when light was scarce. The quasar’s intense activity, producing bright flashes of energy, could have reionized the surrounding gas, making the early universe visible. This discovery sheds light on how supermassive black holes contributed to shaping the structure and evolution of the cosmos billions of years ago.
Vero’s thoughts on the news:
This discovery is incredibly fascinating as it demonstrates the potential of analyzing light variations to uncover the hidden past of the universe. From a tech perspective, the algorithms, data-processing techniques, and observation tools required to detect such events likely involve groundbreaking innovation in machine learning and big data. These advances pave the way for a future where we can simulate and better model early universal phenomena. The findings also inspire software and hardware advancements that can process cosmic events at this scale, which is a thrilling prospect for technological growth.
Source: Feeding supermassive black holes may have ended the cosmic ‘dark ages’ billions of years ago – Space.com
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