High-resolution radio investigations of nearby galaxies have revealed a hidden population of weakly active black holes in the local Universe that was so far difficult to detect. Hunting these hidden monsters is essential as they can inject energy into their surroundings, influencing star formation rates and the long-term evolution of galaxies.

An international team of astronomers, including Dr. Aru Beri from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), used the e-MERLIN radio array to study 280 nearby galaxies selected from the Palomar sample and probe their central regions.

The researchers detected compact radio emission from about one-quarter of the galaxies, indicating the presence of weakly accreting supermassive black holes that are often overlooked in conventional observations.

Related current affairs