Since 2020, aggregated from related topics
Supermassive black holes are extremely large and massive black holes found at the centers of most galaxies, including the Milky Way. These black holes are millions to billions of times more massive than the Sun and are thought to play a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies. Supermassive black holes are believed to be formed through the process of accretion, where they grow in size by consuming surrounding gas, dust, and stars. They are also responsible for powering some of the brightest and most energetic objects in the universe, known as active galactic nuclei. Studying supermassive black holes can provide important insights into the physics of extreme environments, the formation and evolution of galaxies, and the nature of gravity itself.