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A team of astronomers has recently observed a distant supermassive black hole releasing a jet of plasma in the shape of a twisted rope. This incredible phenomenon resembles a monstrous cosmic spider moving at nearly the speed of light. The researchers used a network of radio telescopes, including the RadioAstron space telescope, to capture this spectacular sight.

By combining the data collected from these telescopes, the astronomers were able to obtain the highest-resolution image of the interior of the blazar named 3C 279. Blazars are the bright centers of galaxies that emit powerful light due to the presence of a feeding supermassive black hole. These black holes continuously consume matter, which forms flattened plates of dust and gas known as accretion disks.

The observations of 3C 279 revealed unprecedented details of the supermassive black hole and the plasma jet at its core. The researchers found that the jet consisted of at least two twisted filaments of plasma that stretched nearly 570 light-years from their source. These observations also showed that the plasma jets are not uniform and straight, but rather have twists and turns caused by the influence of the central black hole.

The presence of helical filaments suggests the existence of a helical magnetic field that confines the jet. This magnetic field, rotating clockwise around the jet in 3C 279, may direct and guide the plasma moving at a speed close to that of light. These findings challenge prior theories about how plasma jets evolve and reveal the intricate processes occurring near the black hole.

This groundbreaking observation contributes to our understanding of supermassive black holes and their powerful jets. It demonstrates the importance of different telescopes in revealing unique features of cosmic objects. Further research will continue to unravel the mysteries of these remarkable phenomena that occur in the depths of the universe.

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– Definition of Blazar: [Insert Definition Source]
– Definition of Accretion Disk: [Insert Definition Source]
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