Cosmic monsters might actually be the universe's biggest planet nurseries
In short: Supermassive black holes are usually defined by their destructive power, consuming everything in their path. However, new research suggests these galactic giants might also be prolific creators. In the turbulent outskirts of these cosmic engines, millions of planets could be forming, potentially outnumbering the worlds found around ordinary stars.
The phenomenon occurs in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs), which are powered by supermassive black holes—objects with masses millions or even billions of times that of our sun. While these black holes are often quiescent, they can become active for millions of years, consuming vast amounts of gas and dust. This process creates massive, platter-shaped accretion disks that glow brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum, often outshining every other star in their host galaxy.
Scientists were astonished to find that despite the extreme turbulence of an AGN, planet formation is possible. The outer edges of these disks, known as tori, possess temperatures and conditions similar to the protoplanetary disks found around infant stars. Because these disks are significantly more gas-rich than those surrounding typical stars, the potential for planet formation is vastly enhanced. Researchers used a computer model of a magnetized black hole disk to simulate how dust clumps together over millions of years.
Data indicates that such settings might contain the cosmos' most numerous planetary groups. Due to heavy matter and powerful gravitational forces, nascent planets might accumulate weight quickly, possibly evolving into 'dust giants' surpassing Jupiter's bulk. Some of these worlds might look like 'lava balls' or even accrete so much material that they eventually grow large enough to become new stars. This discovery shifts our perspective of black holes from purely destructive entities to complex sites of planetary birth.
This research was highlighted by various sources, including a video by Anton Petrov, who introduced the concept of 'blanets' in the context of these celestial bodies.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Millions of Planets Are Forming Around Supermassive Black Holes
- Also: 'We were astonished': Millions of exoplanets could be born near active supermassive black holes | Space
- Also: Supermassive black holes could be the universe's biggest planet nurseries
- Also: www.newscientist.com — Millions of planets might form around supermassive black holes | New Scientist
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