DESI Uncovers Thousands of Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies

Recent findings using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) have led to the discovery of thousands of black holes, significantly increasing the known population of intermediate-mass black holes and active black holes in dwarf galaxies. This research, led by Ragadeepika Pucha and published in The Astrophysical Journal, identified 300 intermediate-mass black hole candidates and 2,500 dwarf galaxies hosting actively feeding black holes, using data from just 20% of DESI's first year of operation. These discoveries, which have tripled the census of known black holes in these categories, offer valuable insights into black hole formation and galaxy evolution. DESI, mounted on the NSF's Mayall Telescope, is part of a five-year project aiming to map 40 million galaxies. This work highlights the importance of advanced instruments like DESI in uncovering the complexities of black holes and their roles in the cosmos.