Scientists have discovered one of the most massive black holes ever recorded, located 5 billion light-years away within the Cosmic Horseshoe galaxy system. This "dormant" black hole, possessing a mass equivalent to 36 billion suns, was detected using a novel method that leverages its immense gravitational pull on surrounding light and stars. The discovery offers insights into the relationship between supermassive black holes and the size of their host galaxies, hinting at a connection between galaxy growth and black hole mass. This method allows for the detection of even quiet black holes, offering a new tool in cosmological research.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.