Mysterious ‘Little Red Dots’ in Early Universe Baffle Scientists

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed hundreds of tiny, brilliant objects glowing red in the infant universe, sparking a radical new explanation: black hole stars. The “little red dots” are massive cocoons of hot gas larger than our solar system, powered by immense heat generated by a hidden black hole.

Researchers initially suspected these objects could be early galaxies, but further observations failed to match that idea. New data from JWST and other telescopes show the dots are too small, too red, and too luminous to fit any known category of star or galaxy. The concept of “black hole stars” is not new, but recent findings have strengthened the theory.

The objects’ compact size and incredible brightness suggest they could be the formative phase of supermassive black holes now scattered across the universe. If confirmed, LRDs might represent a previously unknown process in the formation of these cosmic giants. Scientists are cautiously optimistic, but also aware that direct proof is still lacking. New observations using the Hubble Space Telescope and other instruments will help unravel the mystery of these enigmatic objects.

Source: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/the-universes-first-little-red-dots-may-be-a-new-kind-of-star-with-a-black-hole-inside