Astronomers have discovered the largest radio jet ever observed in the early universe, stretching at least 200,000 light-years across. This discovery, made using the International Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope, provides new insights into the evolution of supermassive black holes in the early universe.
The radio jet originates from a quasar named J1601+3102, which formed when the universe was just 1.2 billion years old, less than 10% of its current age. Quasars are extremely bright galactic cores powered by supermassive black holes that eject vast amounts of energy.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions that only the most massive black holes could generate such powerful jets. The researchers say this finding is a major step in understanding how early black holes influence their environments.