'Dancing Jets' of Cygnus X-1: Earth-Sized Radio Telescope Measures Black Hole Power Equivalent to 10,000 Suns

Curtin University researchers use an Earth-sized telescope array to measure the 150,000 km/s jets of black hole Cygnus X-1, confirming key theories on cosmic energy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 7:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Curtin University.

Measuring the Pulse of a Cosmic Powerhouse

For decades, astronomers have struggled to measure the precise, real-time power of the jets of plasma that erupt from the edges of black holes. While average power over millions of years has been estimated, "instantaneous" measurements have remained elusive. Using a global array of radio telescopes acting as a single Earth-sized lens, researchers have now snapped images of the Cygnus X-1 system a binary pair consisting of a black hole and a massive supergiant star to capture these jets in action. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, reveals that these jets possess a power output equivalent to 10,000 Suns.

The Mechanics of 'Dancing Jets'

The breakthrough came from observing a phenomenon lead author Dr. Steve Prabu describes as "dancing jets." As the black hole orbits its companion supergiant star, the star’s incredibly powerful stellar winds buffet and deflect the black hole's jets. By measuring the degree to which these jets were bent by the wind, scientists were able to calculate the jet's force and speed for the first time. The team determined that the jets are traveling at approximately 150,000 km per second half the speed of light.

Confirming the 10 Percent Rule

A significant outcome of this research is the empirical confirmation of a long-standing theoretical assumption: that approximately 10% of the energy released as matter falls toward a black hole is redirected into the surrounding environment via its jets. This "feedback" is essential for the formation of the universe's structure, as it prevents galaxies from growing too large and influences the birth of new stars. While this 10% figure has been a staple of large-scale computer simulations of the Universe, this study provides the first hard observational data to anchor that theory.