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Black hole plasma jets are shaped like bell-bottoms

Streams of plasma shooting away from galaxies flare at the ends

black hole shooting jet of plasma into space

Some black holes shoot jets of plasma into space, shown in this artist’s illustration. A new analysis reveals jets that flare out like bell-bottoms.

Daria Sokol/MIPT Press Office

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Jets of high-energy plasma shooting away from supermassive black holes resemble bell-bottom pants — starting out narrow but ending with a flare.