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The presence of supermassive black holes influences the structure of galaxies from "summary" of The Science of Interstellar by Kip Thorne
Supermassive black holes, with masses millions to billions of times that of our sun, lurk at the centers of most galaxies. While these monsters are tiny in size compared to their host galaxies, they have an enormous impact on the structure and behavior of these galaxies. One key way they influence galaxies is through their gravitational pull. As matter spirals into the black hole, it releases energy in the form of radiation and powerful jets of particles. These energetic outflows can heat up gas in the galaxy, preventing it from cooling and condensing to form stars. This can effectively shut down star formation in the galaxy, leading to a population of older stars. The black hole's gravitational pull can also disrupt the orbits of stars and other objects in the galaxy, causing them to move in unpredictable ways. This can create disturbances in the galaxy's shape and structure, leading to features such as spiral arms, bars, and rings. Additionally,...
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