Researchers have taken a major step toward understanding how black holes influence the universe by directly measuring the power of their jets. Using a network of radio telescopes spread across the globe, a team led by Curtin University captured detailed images that reveal just how energetic these jets can be. The findings support long-standing theories about the role black holes play in shaping the structure of galaxies. The study, published in Nature Astronomy , focused on Cygnus X-1, a well-known system that includes the first confirmed black hole and a massive supergiant star. Scientists determined that the jets streaming from this black hole carry an energy output equal to about 10,000 Suns. To make this measurement, the team relied on a widely spaced array of telescopes working together as one. This setup allowed them to watch how the jets were pushed and distorted by powerful winds coming from the nearby star as the black hole traveled along its orbit.…