Description:

Abstract:  X-ray and radio observations have revealed enormous energy being released from the nuclei of massive galaxies.  This energy, presumably generated by massive black holes, is a significant factor governing galaxy evolution.  The existence of black holes has been debated since Einstein stumbled upon them decades ago.  Recent gravitational wave detections, and ground breaking images of the photon rings surrounding the massive nuclear black holes in M87 and the Milky Way have dispelled doubt.  I will show how these nuclear monsters are fuelled and describe their impact on the growth of massive galaxies and great galaxy clusters.

Speaker: Professor Brian McNamara, University of Waterloo

Hosts: Sasha Tchekhovskoy, Claude-André Faucher-Giguère