Published: 6th Jul, 2023
Context
Researchers observed data from quasars - objects powered by "supermassive" black holes at the centre of early galaxies - using them to measure time near the beginning of the universe.
Key-findings
- The scientists used observational data from 200 quasars. Using this data, they were able to measure this immense time dilation.
- The ancient slow-motion universe: Scientists were able to observe an early moment during the universe's evolution when it was running in extreme slow motion (five times slower).
- This time dilation shows that massive black holes in the ancient universe behave just as Einstein's general theory of relativity
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Einstein's general theory of relativity
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What is time dilation?
- Time dilation refers to the phenomenon whereby different objects experience time differently based on their relative speeds or gravitational potentials.
- This is observable, for example, in the fact that geosynchronous satellites experience time differently from a clock on Earth.
What are Quasars?
- Quasars are tremendously active supermassive black holes millions to billions of times more massive than Sun, usually residing at centers of galaxies.
- They devour matter drawn to them by their immense gravitational pull and unleash torrents of radiation including jets of high-energy particles, while a glowing disk of matter spins around them.
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