AI Insight
Nearly all galaxies contain a supermassive black hole at their center, with the rare exceptions being galaxies that lost their black holes during galactic collisions. Evidence indicates that galaxies and their supermassive black holes have co-evolved throughout cosmic history, though scientists continue to debate whether galaxies formed around black hole seeds first or vice versa.
Why it matters
Understanding the relationship between galaxy formation and supermassive black hole growth helps explain fundamental processes in cosmic evolution and structure formation. This knowledge advances our understanding of how the universe's largest structures developed over billions of years.
Understand the Science
Nearly every galaxy has a supermassive black hole. The few that don’t have had theirs ejected during a galactic collision. That’s because galaxies and their black holes have formed hand in hand. There is still some debate as to whether galaxies formed around the seeds of supermassive black holes or the other way around, but there is plenty of evidence to support the idea that the two evolve together.
Source: Some black holes grow much faster than their galaxies