Astronomers have identified an unusually energetic object from the early universe that appears to be a "black hole star," according to a report from STERN.de. The discovery, made using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), sets a new record for the most distant object of its kind found to date.
The object belongs to a class of mysterious sources known as "little red dots," which have puzzled researchers since their detection. STERN.de reports that the newly found black hole star is the earliest ever observed, offering fresh clues about how supermassive black holes formed in the universe's infancy.
The finding, also covered by Spektrum der Wissenschaft and Welt der Physik, highlights a phenomenon that could explain the "engine" behind little red dots. According to the reports, these compact, red-shifted objects may be powered by black hole stars — hypothetical objects that are neither fully stars nor fully black holes, but a hybrid state that emits intense energy.
The JWST's infrared capabilities have been key to spotting these distant objects. The black hole star's light has traveled billions of years to reach Earth, providing a snapshot of conditions when the universe was very young. Researchers are now examining whether similar objects exist at even greater distances, which would push the record further back in time.
The discovery adds weight to the idea that black hole stars could be the seeds from which early supermassive black holes grew. While the exact nature of these objects remains under debate, the new data gives scientists a concrete target for follow-up observations. Next, astronomers will likely focus on analyzing the object's spectrum in detail to confirm its composition and better understand how it formed so early in cosmic history.
