A supermassive black hole in the galaxy 1ES 1927+654, located 275 million light-years from the Milky Way, has baffled astronomers with its unusual behavior.

Recent observations suggest the black hole’s fluctuations are caused by a white dwarf star orbiting dangerously close to its event horizon.

The star’s orbit is shrinking, causing rapid changes in the black hole’s X-ray emissions.

The dense white dwarf, which is likely losing material but avoiding being consumed, may eventually retreat from the black hole, Science Alert has reported.

This discovery sheds light on extreme gravitational environments and will continue to be studied.

Written by B.C. Begley