Today, scientists have discovered a remarkable event in deep space: a stellar demolition derby that has resulted in the birth of a powerful, supermassive black hole. Located in the distant galaxy W2246-0526, this cosmic collision involved two giant galaxies that collided and merged, spawning a monster black hole with a mass equivalent to 17 billion suns. This is the most massive black hole ever observed in the early universe, and its formation could provide clues about the evolution of galaxies in the early days of the universe. Scientists believe that this collision could have been the result of a cosmic tug-of-war between two galaxies, each vying to swallow the other. As the two galaxies collided, the stars, gas, and dust within them were thrown into a chaotic and violent state, ultimately leading to the formation of a supermassive black hole. The discovery of such an event in the early universe could help scientists better understand how galaxies form and evolve over time.

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source: Phys.org