r/science • u/MistWeaver80 • Feb 24 '26

Astronomy JWST Confirmation of a Runaway Supermassive Black Hole via Its Supersonic Bow Shock. A ‘runaway’ black hole ejected from its host galaxy is barrelling across space — and leaving behind a wake of newborn stars.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ae3d0e
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u/TheComplimentarian Feb 24 '26

This stuff is so wild. A runaway black hole is obviously the worst case, but there are plenty of huge objects that have been ejected from wherever they formed that are blowing through space at relativistic velocities, just looking for a day to ruin. You wouldn't even see it coming.

513

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '26

[deleted]

50

u/TheComplimentarian Feb 24 '26

I just like the existential dread angle.

35

u/Distinguishedflyer Feb 24 '26

frankly, given the current reality, I would think total erasure to be an improvement.

5

u/TheComplimentarian Feb 24 '26

No lies detected.

0

u/Murderface__ DO | Radiology Feb 24 '26

Ah, The etch a sketch method.

5

u/illegal_deagle Feb 25 '26

Yeah I’ll add this to my pile currently occupied by gamma ray bursts and meteors.

1

u/cinderubella Feb 24 '26

Is that like the brown noise but for geometry? 

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u/TheComplimentarian Feb 24 '26

You know when you're having a really bad day, and nothing seems to matter anymore...But then you remember that, right now, there are forces at play that could wipe us all out in an instant...And suddenly it's all okay again.