This study examines a rare population of low-redshift blue low-excitation radio galaxies (BLERGs)—gas-rich galaxies with low-power radio jets that are unexpectedly star-forming—to challenge long-standing assumptions about AGN feedback. Traditionally, such jets are thought to suppress star formation and drive galaxies toward quiescence. However, these BLERGs, found at z < 2, exhibit signs of recent star formation (<100 Myr).

Multi-wavelength observations from Gemini/GNIRS (example shown above; IR), ALMA (radio), and optical imaging from Pan-STARRS reveal that these systems host abundant cold molecular gas, young stellar populations, and shock-heated molecular hydrogen emission—likely triggered by gas-rich mergers or close interactions with companion galaxies. Despite evidence shock heating, star formation persists, suggesting these galaxies are in a transitional phase before the onset of strong negative feedback driven by jets. BLERGs thus represent a cold-mode AGN fueling pathway more typical of high-redshift systems and serve as valuable local analogs for studying black hole–galaxy co-evolution.