Astronomers have observed ultra-fast winds from a black hole in the spiral galaxy NGC 3783, traveling at 60,000 km/s, or about 20% the speed of light.

The black hole, with a mass of 30 million suns, powers an active galactic nucleus that emits intense radiation and drives these powerful winds.

Researchers found that bursts of X-ray light from the black hole trigger the winds within a single day, caused by sudden untwisting of the nucleus’ magnetic field.

The phenomenon is likened to coronal mass ejections from the sun, suggesting similar physical processes may operate on vastly different cosmic scales, CBS News has reported.

Studying these winds helps scientists understand the role of active galactic nuclei in shaping the evolution of galaxies.