spacetoday.net: Cosmic rays linked to black holes

Cosmic rays linked to black holes

Posted: Fri, Nov 9, 2007, 6:02 AM ET (1102 GMT)
Astronomers have linked high-energy cosmic rays to supermassive black holes in the hearts of galaxies, according to research announced Thursday. Data collected by the Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory, under construction in South America, showed that these high-energy particles, primarily protons, do not come equally from every direction in the universe but instead are concentrated n the direction of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), galaxies that shine brighter than ordinary galaxies because of the presence of matter swirling into a supermassive black hole at its center. The process that actually accelerates the particles to nearly the speed of light, however, remains unclear.