The Largest Electrical Current in the Universe

In 2011, astronomers discovered a massive electric current in the galaxy 3C303, located two billion light-years away. This current, the largest ever found in space, is generated by a jet of matter from a supermassive black hole's accretion disk. The jet extends over 150,000 light-years, surpassing the Milky Way's size. The accretion disk's high activity and strong magnetic field contribute to the jet's exceptional power. This discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, marks the first direct measurement of such a jet's electric current. As technology advances, more such phenomena may be observed.

What was the significant discovery made by astronomers in the galaxy 3C303?

• A new planet

• A massive electrical current

• A new star

• A black hole

How does the size of the jet from 3C303 compare to the Milky Way?

• It is the same size

• It is longer

• It is smaller

• It is shorter

What is the source of the jet in the galaxy 3C303?

• A comet

• The accretion disk around a supermassive black hole

• A supernova

• A nearby star

What percentage of active galaxies with supermassive black holes have jets?

• 10%

• 25%

• 50%

• 75%

Why is the jet from 3C303 considered exceptionally powerful?

• It is made of dark matter

• It has an unusually strong magnetic field

• It is closer to Earth

• It is visible in visible light