So when they noticed bright X-ray flares coming from the galaxy, they quickly turned their attention.

FORBES: Scientists Catch A Black Hole Munching On A Giant Planet

Measurements undertaken with two space-based X-ray telescopes imaged the black hole at the centre of galaxy NGC 1365.

BBC: First glimpse of a black hole's spin

Besides revealing clues about the lost galaxy, the black hole itself, called HLX-1 (Hyper-Luminous X-ray source 1), is scientifically interesting, researchers said.

MSN: Rare Black Hole Survives Galaxy's Destruction

New data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory indicates that this distorted supernova remnant potentially hosts the youngest black hole in our galaxy.

ENGADGET: Alt-week 2.16.13: robo-rats, a young black hole and a computer that cannot crash