NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory along with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)'s National Radio Astronomical Observatory's (NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array spotted gargantuan black holes firing strong beams of supercharged particles which were slowly changing direction over millions of years.

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory along with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)'s National Radio Astronomical Observatory's (NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array spotted gargantuan black holes firing strong beams of supercharged particles which were slowly changing direction over millions of years. The supermassive black holes were seen spinning in different directions and shooting these particle jets in deep space. In a statement, Astrophysicist Francesco Ubertosi said, "We found that about a third of the beams are now pointing in completely different directions than before. These Death Star black holes are swivelling around and pointing at new targets, like the fictional space station in Star Wars." Also Read: Parasite black holes devouring stars from inside, says study As per a new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal, these cosmic jets which were released from every black hole in two opposite-facing streams created cavities in clouds of gas. Supermassive black holes are a type of colossal black holes which are present at the centres of many galaxies, which include our own Milky Way. As per the paper, scientists can understand the direction of the jets which were released from 16 supermassive black holes by investigating pairs of bubbles present in clouds of gas in space. The force of the powerful particle beams may have created such cavities in gas. Scientists remain puzzled about the change in the direction of jets It was found by the researchers that many of the black holes, which were studied, changed the direction in which their jets were released by around 90 degrees. In a statement, study co-author and researcher at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CFA) Gerrit Schellenberger said, "Considering that these black holes are likely more than 10 billion years old, we consider a large change in direction over a few million years to be fast. Changing the direction of the giant black hole beams in about a million years is analogous to changing the direction of a new battleship in a few minutes." Watch: Scientists unveil Black Hole's plunge, bizarre region around black holes found The researchers have failed to figure out how the black holes are turning their beams in different directions, as they were earlier believed to align with the axis. It is around this axis that the black holes continue to rotate. As per the scientists, if the material falls into the black hole at an angle which is not parallel to its disk it may change the direction that is faced by this rotational axis. In the statement, co-author and a researcher at CFA Jan Vrtilek said, "It's possible that material rapidly falling towards the black holes at a different angle for long enough would drag their rotation axes in a different direction, causing the beams to point in a different direction." (With inputs from agencies)

Black holes captured acting like a Death Star’s weapon, point jets at new targets

In a recent study, researchers have claimed that the moon of Saturn, which has a massive impact crater on its surface and appears similar to the Death Star from Star Wars, has a hidden ocean which is buried miles beneath its crust.&nbsp;

With the discovery, Mimas - which is a 250-mile-wide ice ball - became the latest member to join an exclusive club of moons which harbour subterranean oceans. Saturn’s Titan and Enceladus and Jupiter’s Europa and Ganymede were already part of the group.&nbsp;

Astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris in France Valery Lainey said, "It’s quite a surprise. If you look at the surface of Mimas, there’s nothing that betrays a subsurface ocean. It’s the most unlikely candidate by far.”

Keeping in mind the peculiarities in Mimas’ orbit, the astronomers have drawn two possibilities: either an internal ocean of the moon helped its outer shell to shift independently from the core or that it contains an elongated core covered in ice.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-discovers-super-earth-with-habitable-zone-this-planet-137-light-years-away-assures-687327">NASA discovers ‘super-Earth’ with habitable zone. This planet 137 light years away assures…</a>

The calculations done by Lainey and his colleagues, using images captured by NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn, showed that the moon contains a hidden subsurface ocean.&nbsp;

“There is no way to explain both the spin of Mimas and the orbit with a rigid interior. “You definitely need to have the global ocean on which the icy shelf can slip," said Lainey.&nbsp;

The scientists said that an ocean, which is 45 miles deep, is hidden beneath Mimas’s 15-mile-thick icy shell, and temperatures close to the sea floor reach tens of degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

<h2>Are global oceans harbouring life?&nbsp;</h2>

The findings of global oceans in moons around Jupiter and Saturn have left scientists studying if they have a potential for harbouring life.&nbsp;

More than 100 geysers have been spotted on Enceladus where vapour blasts through surface fractures. If life ever evolved on the tiny moon, the plumes could propel extraterrestrial microbes out into space where they could be detected by visiting missions.

Lainey said that since the moon contained water which is in contact with warm rock, he can't rule out the existence of life.&nbsp;

However, if the hidden ocean is only tens of millions of years old, the possibility of the ocean harbouring life may be less.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;New Study reveals why the Moon is shrinking

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-new-study-reveals-why-the-moon-is-shrinking-686119/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He said, “Whether it’s too young, nobody knows. I would say: why not?”

Professor of planetary geosciences at the Open University David Rothery said that even if subsurface ocean was present beneath the surface of Mimas, there were comparatively easier places to look for life beyond Earth.&nbsp;

“There’s no indication of a connection between the internal ocean, where life could survive, and the surface or space where traces of life could be detected and sampled, such as we have done in the plumes of Enceladus, and hope to do on the surface or in plumes at Europa,” said Rothery, as reported by The Guardian.&nbsp;

“If there were life inside Mimas, it would be hidden by more than 20km of unbroken ice. If the ocean has existed for only 25mn years, that may not have been enough time for life to get started and established. Europa and Enceladus are much more promising candidates," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a recent study, researchers have claimed that the moon of Saturn, which has a massive impact crater on its surface and appears similar to the Death Star from Star Wars, has a hidden ocean which is buried miles beneath its crust.

In a recent study, researchers have claimed that the moon of Saturn, which has a massive impact crater on its surface and appears similar to the Death Star from Star Wars, has a hidden ocean which is buried miles beneath its crust. With the discovery, Mimas - which is a 250-mile-wide ice ball - became the latest member to join an exclusive club of moons which harbour subterranean oceans. Saturn’s Titan and Enceladus and Jupiter’s Europa and Ganymede were already part of the group. Astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris in France Valery Lainey said, "It’s quite a surprise. If you look at the surface of Mimas, there’s nothing that betrays a subsurface ocean. It’s the most unlikely candidate by far.” Keeping in mind the peculiarities in Mimas’ orbit, the astronomers have drawn two possibilities: either an internal ocean of the moon helped its outer shell to shift independently from the core or that it contains an elongated core covered in ice. Also Read: NASA discovers ‘super-Earth’ with habitable zone. This planet 137 light years away assures… The calculations done by Lainey and his colleagues, using images captured by NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn, showed that the moon contains a hidden subsurface ocean. “There is no way to explain both the spin of Mimas and the orbit with a rigid interior. “You definitely need to have the global ocean on which the icy shelf can slip," said Lainey. The scientists said that an ocean, which is 45 miles deep, is hidden beneath Mimas’s 15-mile-thick icy shell, and temperatures close to the sea floor reach tens of degrees Celsius. Are global oceans harbouring life? The findings of global oceans in moons around Jupiter and Saturn have left scientists studying if they have a potential for harbouring life. More than 100 geysers have been spotted on Enceladus where vapour blasts through surface fractures. If life ever evolved on the tiny moon, the plumes could propel extraterrestrial microbes out into space where they could be detected by visiting missions. Lainey said that since the moon contained water which is in contact with warm rock, he can't rule out the existence of life. However, if the hidden ocean is only tens of millions of years old, the possibility of the ocean harbouring life may be less. Watch: New Study reveals why the Moon is shrinking He said, “Whether it’s too young, nobody knows. I would say: why not?” Professor of planetary geosciences at the Open University David Rothery said that even if subsurface ocean was present beneath the surface of Mimas, there were comparatively easier places to look for life beyond Earth. “There’s no indication of a connection between the internal ocean, where life could survive, and the surface or space where traces of life could be detected and sampled, such as we have done in the plumes of Enceladus, and hope to do on the surface or in plumes at Europa,” said Rothery, as reported by The Guardian. “If there were life inside Mimas, it would be hidden by more than 20km of unbroken ice. If the ocean has existed for only 25mn years, that may not have been enough time for life to get started and established. Europa and Enceladus are much more promising candidates," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Another water world in solar system? Saturn’s moon ‘Death Star’ possibly hiding massive ocean

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Black holes captured acting like a Death Star’s weapon, point jets at new targets

Another water world in solar system? Saturn’s moon ‘Death Star’ possibly hiding massive ocean