fToRrEeEsSt - Yes, it is likely quasars do not exist much anymore.<br /><br />See today's science channel program on supermassive black holes.<br /><br />It is postulated on said broadcast that supermassive black holes formed within quasars, expelling much gas, causing formation of new stars and expelling them, but gobbling up the rest of the quasar and becoming more supermassive.<br /><br />Which naturally begs one of the questions I asked on my new thread on this - which see.<br /><br />In short, your latter suggestion may be correct.<br /><br />They may have evolved into galaxies with supermassive black holes, creating many new stars in the process.<br /> <br />This may be in miniature part of the process of the origin of our universe from .......<br /><br />Especially the part about shock waves from the process causing stars and structure.