The telescope that captured the first-ever image of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy has produced a new image, this time depicting the black hole in polarized light. The view is crucial to helping astronomers understand how M87—55 million light-years away from Earth—is able to launch energetic jets from its core and “eat” surrounding matter. The jets, which extend at least 5,000 light-years, are one of the galaxy’s most captivating features. The new image taken by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a collaboration linking eight telescopes around the world, represents the first time astronomers have been able to measure light polarization so close to the edge of a black hole. This polarization signifies the presence of magnetic fields at the juncture where matter flows in or is ejected out. “You can see the orientation of these light waves highlighted in elegant golden arcs around …