Monster black hole jet from the early universe is basking in the 'afterglow' of the Big Bang

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have imaged an energy jet from an ancient supermassive black hole's quasar, J1610+1811, located 11.6 billion light-years away. The jet, visible due to cosmic microwave background radiation, spans 300,000 light-years—thrice the Milky Way's width—and carries nearly half the black hole's light energy. This discovery may explain rapid supermassive black hole growth during the universe's "cosmic noon." However, potential NASA budget cuts threaten Chandra's future and X-ray astronomy research.