Black hole might have executed a magnetic ‘flip’
Reported by Elizabeth Howell
Artist’s depiction of a supermassive black hole before flaring up
A black hole may have reversed its magnetic field right before our eyes. A galaxy known as 1ES 1927+654 briefly ceased X-ray emissions for a few months, then resumed and increased. So far the potential black hole observations represent a unique situation visible from 236 million light years away. If scientists can confirm that the outburst was due to a supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy changing its magnetic field, the event may help astrophysicists understand how such a switch affects the black hole’s environment.