Supermassive black holes may ‘kill’ galaxies by shutting down star formation, study finds

An illustration of a supermassive black hole at the centre of a radio galaxy launching powerful jets. Pic Courtesy/Hailey Nelson/Arizona State University

Supermassive black holes effectively "kill" their host galaxies by launching powerful plasma jets that disrupt star formation, according to a new study.

By analysing DESI and LoTSS survey data, researchers found these jets blast energy far beyond galactic centres into the surrounding circumgalactic medium.

This process energises and heats the gas needed to build stars, preventing it from cooling and collapsing, ultimately halting star birth and galactic growth.

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