High schooler finds massive black hole light echo

A high school student has made an unexpected discovery of a large cosmic phenomenon known as a light echo, which is linked to a dormant black hole. Julian Shapiro, a 17-year-old student from The Dalton School in New York City, found this echo while searching for supernova remnants in space images. At a recent physics conference in Anaheim, Shapiro explained how the light echo shows the afterglow of gas ionized by a supermassive black hole. This effect creates a glow even after the black hole has stopped being active. He was originally looking for remnants of exploded stars when he stumbled upon this unique object. Shapiro used data from an astronomical survey called DECaPS2. While examining one area, he noticed that its structure did not match typical supernova remnants. Instead, it showed signs indicating that it might be linked to a black hole. He estimates that the light echo has a diameter of about 150,000 to 250,000 light-years, making it one of the largest ever discovered—up to two times wider than the Milky Way galaxy. This large size could offer new opportunities for detailed observations. Experts like Sasha Plavin from Harvard University praised Shapiro's careful examination of the images. They believe that understanding light echoes can provide important insights into how black holes influence their surroundings in galaxies. As Shapiro continues his research, he hopes to learn more about the echo's composition and its relationship with other cosmic phenomena. Even though his discovery was accidental, he is excited to contribute to the field of black hole science and advance knowledge about how galaxies operate.