Large massive black holes are not always in the center. Researchers have obtained direct observational evidence for the first time in a dwarf galaxy.

In traditional impressions, high-mass black holes are often "dwelling" at the center of galaxies. However, an international team led by researcher An Tao from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a black hole in a dwarf galaxy located approximately 230 million light-years away from Earth. This black hole is not located at the center of the galaxy, but is about 3,000 light-years off-center and is emitting radio jets. By combining multiple observation features, the researchers confirmed that this is a freely roaming black hole that is actively accreting and has jets. This discovery further strengthens the understanding that "black hole growth is not limited to the centers of galaxies" and provides a new perspective for understanding the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe. The related findings were published online in the English edition of the journal Science Bulletin on September 5, 2025.