In most observed galaxy hearts,
Massive black holes reside,
Formed from dark-baryon parts,
As huge stars collapse or collide.
Telescopes secrets divulge,
Hinting at coevolution,
The key: a galaxy’s bulge?
We do not yet know the solution.
Whence the crucial gas-fuel
With which to feed a black hole?
Do galaxies, holes often duel?
Or play a more symbiont role?
Next, we tackle all spectra;
Our tools, from low to high climb,
Sensing waves from far plectra,
Over the whole Hubble time.
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Further reading:
The Formation and Evolution of Massive Black Holes, M. Volonteri, Science, 2012
This is one in a series of poems based on science news, written by Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. “Black Holes” first appeared on Allen’s website on Aug. 6, 2012.
