Black Holes Actively Manage Matter, Warwick Study Finds

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Contrary to the long-held view of black holes as cosmic vacuum cleaners, a new study from the University of Warwick shows these celestial giants actively manage the matter they accrete. Astronomers have discovered black holes can either blast material back into space as powerful jets or sweep it away in vast winds, in a mutually exclusive 'cosmic seesaw' that reshapes our understanding of these enigmatic objects.

Why it matters

This dynamic behavior of black holes directly impacts star formation and galactic evolution, as the energy released by these outflows can influence the surrounding gas clouds, potentially suppressing or triggering star birth. Understanding this balance between jets and winds is crucial for modeling how black holes influence their galactic environments.

The details

As matter spirals towards a black hole, it forms a superheated disk known as an accretion disk. Before crossing the event horizon, surprisingly large amounts of material are expelled in two primary forms: relativistic jets - narrow, focused beams of plasma ejected from the black hole's poles at nearly the speed of light; and X-ray winds - broader, slower streams of highly ionized gas blown off the surface of the accretion disk by radiation and magnetic pressure. The groundbreaking research demonstrates these two outflow types are mutually exclusive - when a black hole emits a high-speed jet, the X-ray wind diminishes, and vice versa, revealing a fundamental trade-off in the regulation of energy output within black holes.

• The research was published in Nature Astronomy in February 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Scientists are now focusing on determining the precise mechanisms that trigger the switch between jet and wind modes, with further research involving detailed observations of numerous black holes across different galaxies to identify patterns and refine our models.