Ben Bromley, University of Utah (IMAGE) University of Utah Caption University of Utah astrophysicist Ben Bromley and colleagues at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory say that calculations and observations provide strong evidence that supermassive black holes grow so big by repeatedly capturing one star from pairs of binary stars, while hurling the other binary partner into space at a hypervelocity of more than 1 million mph. Credit Lee J. Siegel, University of Utah Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.