A high school student in New York recently made an incredible find in space. Seventeen-year-old Julian Shapiro discovered a cosmic light echo that might be twice as wide as our Milky Way galaxy. While he was investigating dying stars, he stumbled upon a glowing formation that is believed to be the afterglow of a dormant black hole.
Initially, Julian was using data from the DECaPS2 survey to search for remnants of supernovae—those spectacular explosions of massive stars. But instead of finding supernova remnants, he discovered something unusual. This object didn’t show the typical signs of a supernova, like a central explosion point or filamentary patterns.
"There are these outer regions of gas being ionized by a supermassive black hole, which results in this echo," he explained during his presentation at the 2025 American Physical Society Global Physics Summit.
This light echo is a type of radiation that persists long after the black hole has stopped emitting energy. By utilizing the Southern African Large Telescope, Julian found high levels of ionized sulfur and oxygen in the area, indicating that gas had been shocked by intense radiation from a once-active supermassive black hole. “It was a real surprise to stumble upon this,” he remarked.
The scale of Julian’s discovery is astonishing. He estimates that this cosmic structure spans between 150,000 and 250,000 light-years wide. For context, the Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years across. If this measurement is confirmed, it could be the largest light echo ever recorded. Its impressive size allows astronomers to capture detailed images, a significant advantage in research like this.
Insights from scientists highlight the importance of such discoveries. Sasha Plavin, a researcher at Harvard University, stated, “Echoes like the one Julian found are a great way to study black holes. They tell us how black holes behaved before going silent.” These light echoes provide crucial details about the lifespan of black holes and the extent of their influence in the universe.
Julian’s journey into astrophysics is remarkable for someone his age. Balancing school and college applications, he’s already showcasing his research at international conferences. He plans to delve deeper into the echo’s composition and structure, hoping to contribute to our understanding of galaxy activities.
"My involvement in this area of research came as a bit of a surprise to me,” Julian shared. “But I hope this object, in particular, helps expand the knowledge of galaxy activities that we don’t fully understand."
This discovery illustrates the increasing accessibility of astronomy. With open data and the right tools, even students like Julian can make significant scientific contributions. His light echo serves as a reminder that groundbreaking discoveries can come from anywhere, not just from large observatories or experienced researchers.
For more detailed insights into black holes and their effects on the universe, you can check NASA’s resources on the topic here: NASA – Black Holes.
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