The higher rate of novae in the area leads to two possibilities: either the region around the black hole has twice as many two-star systems, or the white dwarfs in the region are twice as likely to erupt.
Researchers are leaning towards the second possibility as the more likely option. That would mean that the jet itself is doing something to the stars.
The idea researchers initially proposed was that the black hole jet caused the dwarf’s companion star to heat up as it passed by. That would cause the companion star to spew out more hydrogen, which could kick-start the nova eruption.
However, this idea was dismissed based on the amount of heat that process would require.
