Researchers have created the most detailed video ever produced of a black hole jet, combining over a quarter-century of astronomical observations with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. The animation depicts 3C 345, a powerful jet emanating from a distant galaxy located in the constellation Hercules, traveling at nearly the speed of light while carrying intense radiation.
Scientists assembled 116 images collected between 1995 and 2022 using the Very Long Baseline Array, a network of 10 radio telescopes distributed across the United States. To transform these individual snapshots into a fluid video, the team employed an advanced neural network called Kine, which enhanced the resolution to four times greater clarity than any single original image. This breakthrough technique allowed researchers to measure jet velocity with unprecedented accuracy, revealing surprising findings about how the material moves.
The study, published in Nature in August 2026, uncovered an unexpected discovery: the jet’s brightest components traveled at 10 to 13 times the speed of light, while surrounding gas moved at 9 to 12 times light speed. This finding challenges prevailing theories about jet dynamics, as scientists expected brighter regions to move faster than their surroundings. Researchers emphasized that their innovative approach could revolutionize how astronomers study similar cosmic phenomena in the future.
Originally reported by Livescience →
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