Quasars are among the most luminous and energetic objects in the universe, powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies. As matter spirals into these black holes, it heats up and emits massive amounts of light and radiation—outshining entire galaxies. Quasars are so bright that they can be observed billions of light-years away, acting as cosmic lighthouses that help astronomers study the early universe’s structure and evolution.
Experts at institutions like the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the European Southern Observatory use quasars as tools to measure cosmic distances and trace the distribution of matter in the universe. By analyzing the light from quasars, scientists gain insights into the properties of intergalactic gas and the formation of galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. These objects also help verify aspects of general relativity and the expansion rate of the universe.
What makes quasars especially fascinating is their dual nature: they are both remnants of ancient cosmic activity and windows into the universe’s youth. As telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope probe deeper into space, astronomers hope to uncover even earlier quasars, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of black holes and galaxy formation. In essence, quasars serve as time machines, revealing secrets from the dawn of the cosmos.
