A "DEATH star" galaxy is sending out a powerful jet of particles and magnetic radiation that is likely obliterating any possible life in its broad path, notably in a nearby galaxy, astronomers say.
They said the two galaxies appeared to be merging and the disturbance in the magnetic field caused by this movement might have awakened a dormant, supermassive black hole in one of the galaxies.
They have images of the deadly blast, spurting out from a system known as 3C321.
Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory show both galaxies have supermassive black holes at their centres, and 3C321, the larger galaxy, is emitting this stream of energy and particles.
The unnamed smaller galaxy apparently has swung into the path of this jet.
The astronomers agree that both galaxies are likely to have planetary systems but nothing resembling life on any planet could survive the blast.