Posted: Tue, Dec 18, 2007, 8:16 AM ET (1316 GMT)
A beam of energetic particles and radiation from supermassive black hole is blasting through its neighboring galaxy, astronomers said Monday. The system 3C321 consists of two galaxies, each with a supermassive black hole at its core. The black hole in one of the galaxies, though, is generating a jet of highly energetic particles that is striking its neighboring galaxy, the first time astronomers have seen such a collision. Such a jet could damage the atmospheres of any planets orbiting stars in the path of the beam, according to scientists.

Related Links:

•  New Scientist article
•  SPACE.com article
•  Washington Post article
•  Discovery.com article
•  NASA press release