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Why Doesn’t a Black Hole Swallow Its Whole Galaxy?
Black holes supposedly swallow everything, yet our galaxy has one at its centre and we’re still here. Jesse Rogerson helps you replace that alarming picture with an explanation of what can stay nearby, what gets torn apart and why the difference matters.
A star strays too close and gravity pulls it to pieces. You might expect everything to disappear, but the surrounding material has a much more complicated fate. Jesse studied actively feeding supermassive black holes, where the action extends far beyond the meal itself.
Then comes the question that brings this home: how did our galaxy…
The skinny
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