Webb Finds Strong Evidence for 'Black Hole Stars' in the Early Universe
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Vasily Kokorev (UT Austin); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Astronomers just caught a glimpse of something strange in the early universe. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), they found what looks like a "black hole star."
A Hiding Black Hole
Researchers found this object, named GLIMPSE-17775, by accident. They were using JWST to look at a massive galaxy cluster called Abell S1063. The gravity of this cluster acted like a giant magnifying glass, making the tiny red dot behind it bright enough to see.
When they broke down the light coming from it, they found proof of the "black hole star" idea:
- Dense Gas Cocoon: The black hole is covered in a thick layer of gas.
- Trapped Light: The gas absorbs the intense energy from the black hole and glows red, masking the black hole itself.
Why This Matters
Finding a black hole star helps explain how some early supermassive black holes got so big so fast. Instead of forming from dying stars, they might have grown rapidly inside these massive gas clouds right after the Big Bang.