XRISM reveals first hidden secrets of supernovae and black holes

The secrets of the Universe continue to unfold. The first observations from the XRISM telescope are changing our understanding of matter around black holes and supernovae by revealing details previously inaccessible.

Launched in 2023, XRISM is a joint project between JAXA, NASA, and ESA. Its first data challenges our understanding of the most violent objects in the cosmos. By analyzing X-rays, it allows scientists to probe regions where scorching plasmas reign.


The first significant discovery concerns the supernova remnant N132D, which exploded 3,000 years ago, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 160,000 light-years away. Contrary to the previous hypothesis of a simple bubble, XRISM revealed a complex and rapidly expanding donut-shaped structure. This plasma is moving at 750 miles per second (1,200 km/s) at a staggering temperature of 18 billion degrees Fahrenheit (10 billion Celsius). By comparison, the core of our Sun is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million Celsius).

These findings are crucial in understanding the process of dispersing heavy elements, such as iron, into the interstellar medium. These substances play a key role in the formation of new generations of stars. Before the advent of XRISM, it was impossible to obtain such precise data about these phenomena.

The telescope also probed the supermassive black hole in the galaxy NGC 4151, located 62 million light-years away, which has a mass 30 million times that of the Sun.

Using X-rays, researchers mapped the matter swirling around the black hole. They discovered accretion disks and a torus of dust and gas, essential elements for understanding black hole growth. Before being swallowed by the black hole, the surrounding matter gradually moves inward to a distance of 0.001 light-years (roughly the distance between Uranus and the Sun).

The spectroscopy used by XRISM allows observation of the movements of iron atoms at unprecedented scales. By studying this matter, scientists hope to unlock the secrets of galaxy evolution.

These initial discoveries mark the beginning of a new era in observations. XRISM plans to study more than a hundred celestial objects in the coming years, promising revelations about cosmic phenomena.

What is a supermassive black hole?

A supermassive black hole is an extremely dense celestial object with a mass equivalent to millions or even billions of times that of the Sun. It generally forms at the center of galaxies and exerts such strong gravitational pull that nothing, not even light, can escape.

These giants actively absorb surrounding matter, particularly in the form of gas and dust. This process forms an accretion disk around the black hole, where matter heats up to extreme temperatures, emitting powerful radiation such as X-rays. Astronomers use these emissions to indirectly observe black holes.

A supermassive black hole plays a crucial role in the evolution of its host galaxy. By accreting matter, it influences its environment through particle jets and energy, which can either slow down or stimulate nearby star formation.

What is the event horizon of a black hole?

The event horizon is the boundary of a black hole beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape. This limit marks the point where the gravitational pull becomes so strong that the escape velocity exceeds the speed of light.

Once the event horizon is crossed, any matter is irretrievably drawn toward the singularity, where the laws of classical physics no longer apply. The extreme warping of space-time makes it impossible for any return or transmission of information to the outside.

How does gravity affect time near a black hole?

The gravity of a black hole slows down time near the event horizon. This phenomenon, known as gravitational time dilation, is predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity. The closer one gets to the black hole, the more time seems to slow down relative to a distant observer.

As one approaches the event horizon, time for an outside observer appears to stop, although in reality, for the falling object, time continues normally. This temporal distortion highlights the profound influence gravitational fields have on time.