NASA Webb Finds Strongest Evidence Yet for ‘Black Hole Stars’

Connecting the Dots: NASA Webb's Groundbreaking Discovery of a 'Black Hole Star'

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been making waves in the scientific community with its latest discovery, shedding new light on the mysterious "little red dots" that have been puzzling astronomers for years. A team of researchers led by Vasily Kokorev at the University of Texas at Austin has made a groundbreaking finding that a particular little red dot, known as GLIMPSE-17775, is likely a supermassive black hole enveloped in a dense cocoon of partially ionized gas. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the early universe and the formation of galaxies.

The Little Red Dots Enigma

In 2022, the JWST discovered a new type of object in the early universe, known as "little red dots." These objects are thought to be some of the first galaxies to form in the universe, but their exact nature has been a topic of debate among astronomers. Some researchers have suggested that they could be massive stars or even dark matter, but the JWST's observations have provided new insights into their composition.

The GLIMPSE-17775 Discovery

The JWST's observations of the galaxy cluster Abell S1063 were primarily aimed at detecting Population III stars and faint galaxies. However, the telescope's advanced spectrographic capabilities allowed the researchers to obtain a detailed spectrum of GLIMPSE-17775, a little red dot located behind the galaxy cluster. The spectrum revealed a wealth of information about the object's composition and behavior.

The Black Hole Star Scenario

The researchers found that the spectrum of GLIMPSE-17775 is consistent with the "black hole star" scenario, which suggests that the object is a supermassive black hole surrounded by a dense cocoon of partially ionized gas. This scenario is supported by the presence of multiple spectral lines, including hydrogen, oxygen, and helium, which are indicative of a high-energy source. The researchers also found that the spectrum shows a broadening effect known as electron scattering, which is characteristic of a dense, layered gas cocoon.

Implications for the Early Universe

The discovery of a black hole star in the early universe has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. The presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy is thought to play a crucial role in the formation of stars and the growth of the galaxy. The discovery of a black hole star in the early universe suggests that these objects may have been present in the earliest galaxies, and that they may have played a key role in the formation of the universe as we know it today.

Looking Ahead

The discovery of a black hole star in the early universe is a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the universe. The JWST's advanced spectrographic capabilities have allowed researchers to obtain a detailed spectrum of a little red dot, which has revealed a wealth of information about the object's composition and behavior. As researchers continue to study the universe with the JWST, they are likely to make many more groundbreaking discoveries that will shed new light on the mysteries of the cosmos.

Related Images & Videos

• Abell S1063 with Pullout of GLIMPSE-17775 (NIRCam Image)
• Evidence of a 'Black Hole Star'

Related Links

• Read more: Black Hole Basics
• Explore more: ViewSpace | Black Holes: Searching for the unseen
• Watch: NASA Black Hole Visualization Takes Viewers Beyond the Brink
• Watch: What Webb Learns from Light
• Explore more: NASA's Universe of Learning: Black Hole Resources
• Read more: NASA Connects Little Red Dots with Chandra, Webb

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  • Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026
  • Location: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Contact: Media
    • Laura Betz
    • Abigail Major
    • Christine Pulliam
• Related Terms
  • James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
  • Astrophysics
  • Black Holes
  • Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Science & Research
  • The Universe
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  • Related Topics
    • James Webb Space Telescope
    • Black Holes
    • Stars
    • Universe

Source: https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasa-webb-finds-strongest-evidence-yet-for-black-hole-stars/