James Webb discovers potential early supermassive black holes

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a significant discovery regarding the early phases of galaxy formation. It has identified small, distant objects known as "little red dots" (LRDs). Researchers are investigating what these mysterious objects might be. A new study indicates that these LRDs are likely young supermassive black holes. They produce light that suggests high-speed gas is swirling around them, moving at over 1,000 kilometers per second. However, they emit little X-ray and radio light, which is unusual for black holes powering active galactic nuclei. Researchers analyzed high-resolution data from 12 LRDs, finding that these black holes may form within highly ionized clouds of gas. This dense environment absorbs much of the high-energy light they produce, making them appear brighter in red and infrared wavelengths. This suggests they are growing rapidly and gaining mass. Estimates show these young black holes could weigh between 10,000 and 1,000,000 solar masses. As they gather matter quickly, they may eventually clear out their surrounding clouds. This would allow them to evolve and look more like the typical active galactic nuclei seen in the universe today.