Black Holes and the Evolution of Galaxies

Black holes are intriguing and mysterious objects from which no light can escape. Although they were predicted by Albert Einstein, it is not until comparatively recently that scientists have been able to observe and study them.

Astrophysicist Thaisa Storchi Bergmann from Brazil’s Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul has dedicated her career to the study of supermassive black holes and their roles in the evolution of galaxies.

Most galaxies have supermassive black holes at their centres, with the mass of more than a million suns. But it is not known how they were formed.

To investigate these enigmatic giants, Professor Storchi Bergmann works at the Gemini South Observatory, situated at the peak of the Cerro Pachon Mountain in the Chilean Andes.

Her work showed for the first time how matter orbits around a supermassive black hole in the centre of a nearby galaxy. But, like many discoveries, it was a surprise finding – and at first her supervisor did not believe her. She has also revealed how, through the gathering and ejecting of matter from its surroundings, a supermassive black hole can shape the galaxy whose heart it forms.