Why Do Supermassive Black Holes Erupt?

Astronomers are dragging the inner workings of black holes out into the light. The powerful X-ray flares seen erupting from supermassive black holes are tied to the motion of these behemoths' surrounding "coronas," mysterious features that are sources of high-energy light, a new study suggests. Specifically, supermassive black holes likely flare when their coronas launch away from them, researchers said.