Following principles similar to that of a hydroelectric power station, the matter accreting onto a black hole releases a great deal of energy, much of it in X-rays that can ionize the cooler ambient gas in the vicinity of the black hole. If the gas plowed by the supernova remnant was pushed past the black hole, the spectacular interaction would very possibly have occurred as recently as a few hundred years ago, and the resulting flash of energy would likely have irradiated and ionized the surrounding gas. This could explain why the ionization of the gas still survives. In that manner, the activity of the black hole might be regulated by the supernova remnant. In a broader sense, that activity might serve as a model for other black holes and other phenomena throughout the universe.
Many scientists believe massive black holes thrive at the center of most galaxies.
Along with Dr. Baganoff, other MIT researchers involved in this research are Mark Bautz, John Doty and George Ricker, all of the Center for Space Research .