From Mica
Black Holes and the Formation of Galaxies
Astronomers have learned in the last decade that there is a strong correlation between the size of the bulge of a galaxy and the size of the supermassive black hole at its core. However, the supermassive black hole is typically only 0.1% of the stellar mass of the galaxy— in other words, its gravity is insignificant for most of those stars. Why, then, are the sizes so tightly coordinated? Our best understanding indicates that this has to do with the original formation of the galaxy, and that black holes play a key role in cutting off the original formation of the galaxy. Come by to learn about these exotic objects and how they've affected the cosmic evolution of the galaxies we call home.
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