{
  "id": 14461124,
  "title": "New evidence points to two feeding black holes just 175 parsecs apart lurking in the early universe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/new-evidence-points-to-two-feeding-black-holes-just-175-parsecs-apart",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-14T13:40:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-10-evidence-black-holes-parsecs-lurking.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Astronomers have discovered two supermassive black holes actively feeding within just 175 parsecs (570 light-years) of each other in a galaxy from the early universe. This system, designated MG B2016+112 and observed at a redshift of 3.273, is the most compact dual active galactic nucleus (AGN) known at this distance. The findings, published on September 25, suggest the galaxy underwent a major merger, with each contributing its own black hole.\n\nThe system was observed using a gravitational lens provided by a foreground galaxy, which magnified and created three images (A, B, and C) of the distant object. By analyzing archival VLT/MUSE spectra of the lensed images and performing independent tests, researchers found evidence that images A and B light up one black hole, while image C illuminates a distinct black hole. The estimated black hole masses for the associated images are 20-23 million solar masses for A and B, and 15 million solar masses for C.\n\nNotably, the feeding rates of the two black holes differ, with A and B consuming about 47% and 51% of their maximum possible accretion rates, whereas C feeds at only about 4% of its maximum. This discrepancy challenges existing simulations predicting faster feeding for the lighter black hole, though the uncertainty in C's feeding rate may be due to lensing magnification effects. Despite this, the discovery provides strong evidence for a dual AGN system in the early universe, offering a glimpse into the growth of black holes during galaxy mergers at high redshifts.",
  "summary": "Astronomers have found two actively feeding supermassive black holes separated by just 175 parsecs (570 light-years) in a galaxy seen when the universe was only about 2 billion years old. The system, MG B2016+112, lies at a redshift of 3.273 and is the most compact dual AGN known at this redshift. The study was posted to the arXiv preprint server on Sept. 25.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}