Quasars tear up galaxies like tsunamis – The most energetic exits ever seen in the universe

This is an illustration of a distant galaxy with an active quasar at its center. A quasar emits unusually large amounts of energy generated by a supermassive black hole fueled by infallible matter. Credit: NASA, ESA and J. Olmsted (STScI)

Using the unique capabilities of NASAof The Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers discovered the most energetic outlets ever observed in the universe. They emanate from quasars and tear apart across interstellar space like tsunamis, wreaking havoc on the galaxies in which the quasars live.

This illustration shows a distant galaxy with an active quasar at its center. A quasar emits exceptionally large amounts of energy generated by a supermassive black hole powered by infallible matter. Using Hubble’s unique abilities, astronomers have discovered that the blistering radiation pressure from the vicinity of the black hole pushes matter away from the center of the galaxy at a fraction of the speed of light. “Quasar winds” propel hundreds of solar masses of matter each year. It affects the entire galaxy as the material blows snow into the surrounding gas and dust.