Astronomers identify first 'black hole star' from the early universe

An international team of astronomers has identified a new class of astrophysical object known as a "black hole star," marking a significant shift in our understanding of the early universe. The discovery, led by Dr. Rohan Naidu of the University of Hawaiî and the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, was detailed in the journal Nature.

The object, designated MoM-BH-1, was detected as part of the Mirage (or Miracle) survey using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Unlike traditional stars powered by nuclear fusion, MoM-BH-1 is a hybrid entity consisting of a central black hole roughly 100,000 times the mass of the Sun. This black hole is encased in a dense gas envelope approximately the size of our solar system. This unique structure allows the object to emit 100 billion times more energy than a standard nuclear fusion-driven star, appearing as an extremely bright red dot in deep space images.

The mystery of the red dots

For some time, the JWST has been capturing images of the early universe featuring mysterious "little red dots" that did not fit into existing categories of galaxies or stars. To solve the puzzle, researchers employed computer simulations to test various potential energy sources. The results indicated that only a growing black hole enshrouded in a dense cocoon of hydrogen could produce the specific brightness and color observed in these distant objects. MoM-BH*-1, which dates back to approximately 660 million years after the Big Bang, serves as the first confirmed example of this phenomenon.

Redefining cosmic evolution

This discovery provides a critical "missing link" in the study of cosmic evolution. One of the most enduring mysteries in astronomy is how supermassive black holes reached such immense sizes so quickly after the Big Bang. By identifying a new class of objects that blur the line between stars and black holes, scientists now have a potential mechanism to explain the rapid growth of these gravitational giants. The existence of black hole stars suggests that the early universe hosted far more exotic and energetic processes than previously theorized.

Future observations

With the identification of MoM-BH*-1, astronomers will now look to determine how common these objects are across the early cosmos. While the nature of the gas envelope and the specific growth rate of the central black hole are now better understood, researchers continue to analyze other "red dots" to see if they all belong to this new astrophysical category. The discovery opens a new window into the epoch of reionization and the formative years of the first galaxies.