From the November 2009 issue

I was taught that the gravity of a black hole is so great that nothing, not even light, can escape. But I frequently see pictures of dual energy jets emanating from a black hole. How is this possible?

Eric Peters, Anderson, Indiana
By | Published: November 23, 2009 | Last updated on May 18, 2023

January 2010 black hole jets
Black hole jets originate from just outside the event horizon, not from the black hole itself. As the black hole pulls matter toward it, the material loses energy. That energy helps power the jets.
Astronomy: Roen Kelly

The jets arise from the highly energetic region just beyond the edge of the black hole, not from the black hole itself.