Indian researchers discover 3 black holes from 3 galaxies merging together to form a triple active galactic nucleus

Supermassive black holes are difficult to detect because they do not emit any light, but they can reveal their presence by interacting with their surroundings. 

New Delhi: Indian researchers have discoverd three supermassive black holes from three galaxies merging together to form a triple active galactic nucleus in our nearby universe, according to a Ministry of Science & Technology statement. The study was published as a letter in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. The active galactic nucleus is a compact region at the center of a newly discovered galaxy that has a much-higher-than-normal luminosity. "This rare occurrence in our nearby Universe indicates that small merging groups are ideal laboratories to detect multiple accreting supermassive black holes and increases the possibility of detecting such rare occurrences," the statement said. Supermassive black holes are difficult to detect because they do not emit any light. But they can reveal their presence by interacting with their surroundings. When the dust and gas from the surroundings fall onto a supermassive black hole, some of the mass is swallowed by the black hole, but some of it is converted into energy and emitted as electromagnetic radiation that makes the black hole appear very luminous.