In a cosmic event that has stunned the scientific community, astronomers have captured the extraordinary moment a supermassive black hole began to stir after billions of years of dormancy. This rare phenomenon, observed in the galaxy cluster CHIPS 1911+4455 located approximately six billion light-years from Earth, offers an unprecedented glimpse into the early stages of black hole activity and could reshape our understanding of galactic evolution.
A Sleeping Giant Awakens
The black hole at the center of CHIPS 1911+4455 had long been considered inactive, showing no signs of the powerful jets or radiation typically associated with active galactic nuclei. But beginning in late 2019, astronomers using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) and the Very Large Array (VLA) began detecting faint but unmistakable signs of awakening. By 2025, the evidence was clear: the black hole had entered a new phase of activity, launching jets of material and beginning to influence its surrounding environment.
“This is like watching a sleeping giant wake up,” said Francesco Ubertosi, lead researcher from the University of Bologna. “We’re seeing this supermassive black hole at the very beginning of its active phase, before it has had time to significantly alter its surroundings. It’s an incredibly rare opportunity to study the ‘before’ picture of black hole feedback.”
Infant Jets and a Cosmic Laboratory
Unlike mature black holes whose jets can stretch tens of thousands of light-years, the newly awakened black hole’s jets extend only about 100 light-years. While still vast by human standards, this compact scale is considered minuscule in cosmic terms. The jets are so young and small that they haven’t yet pushed away the surrounding hot gas, creating what researchers call a “perfect natural laboratory” for studying how black holes begin to interact with their environments.
The radio spectrum captured by the VLBA revealed a compact source with symmetric, two-sided jets emerging from the galaxy’s core. The data suggests the black hole’s active phase began only about 1,000 years ago—a blink of an eye in astronomical terms.
Implications for Galaxy Formation
This discovery holds profound implications for our understanding of how galaxies evolve. Supermassive black holes are known to play a critical role in regulating star formation and shaping the structure of galaxies. However, the mechanisms that trigger their activity have remained elusive.
In the case of CHIPS 1911+4455, researchers believe the surrounding hot gas may be cooling efficiently, providing the fuel needed to awaken the black hole. This cooling process could be the “smoking gun” that explains how dormant black holes are reactivated.
Adding to the intrigue, the galaxy hosting the black hole is undergoing a starburst phase, forming new stars at a rate between 140 and 190 times the mass of our Sun each year. For comparison, the Milky Way produces only about one solar mass of stars annually. This intense star formation may be linked to the black hole’s awakening, suggesting a complex interplay between galactic dynamics and black hole behavior.
A New Era of Observation
The ability to observe a black hole’s awakening in real time marks a significant milestone in astrophysics. Most black holes studied to date have been active for millions of years, making it difficult to reconstruct their early behavior. This newly awakened black hole provides a rare “before” snapshot, allowing scientists to study the initial conditions and processes that govern black hole activity.
“This discovery fills a crucial gap in our understanding of black hole lifecycles,” said Myriam Gitti, co-author of the study. “It’s a reminder that the universe is still full of surprises, and that even the most massive and mysterious objects can reveal new secrets when we look closely enough.”
As telescopic technology continues to advance, astronomers hope to identify more examples of black holes in the early stages of activity. Each new observation brings us closer to unraveling the mysteries of these cosmic giants and their role in shaping the universe.