VICTOR UDOFIA

The killer black hole

The vastness of the universe resembles an empty ocean with galaxies acting as rare islands. However, this perception is deceptive. Only a small fraction of all atoms are actually found within galaxies, while the majority is believed to drift in the intergalactic medium. Similar to the roots of a massive tree, gas emanates from each galaxy, as gravity funnels fresh mass into this dense cosmic forest. In the intergalactic medium, the building blocks of creation, such as hydrogen and helium, are present, forming sheets and filaments that flow into galaxies and eventually give birth to stars. Yet, upon closer inspection, we discover that quasars are the dominant forces in shaping the universe. These immensely powerful objects, residing at the centers of some galaxies, are as small as a grain of sand compared to the Amazon River, yet they shine with the brilliance of a trillion stars. They emit massive jets of matter, reshaping the cosmos around them and even capable of extinguishing entire galaxies. But what exactly are quasars, and how do they influence the structure of the universe according to their own will?