Two Supermassive Black Holes in Mrk 501 May Merge Within a Century

Astronomers have identified compelling evidence that two supermassive black holes are spiraling toward a collision at the heart of the galaxy Mrk 501. A previously unseen jet of particles, detected by recent observations, indicates the presence of a second black hole. Analysis of the system’s dynamics shows the pair completes an orbit roughly every 121 days. Depending on their masses, the black holes could merge in as little as 100 years, potentially producing a powerful gravitational‑wave event. This discovery offers a rare glimpse into the late stages of black‑hole binary evolution and the extreme environments at galactic centers.