Astronomers have discovered a new class of cosmic objects that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers found an extreme version of “little red dots” called “The Cliff,” which suggests that it could be a black hole star. This newly hypothesized object would essentially be a black hole feeding so rapidly that it lights up the thick cocoon of gas surrounding it, making it glow like a star.
The discovery was made by a team of astronomers led by Anna de Graaff of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. They looked at a peculiar little red dot that existed 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang and noticed a sharp jump in brightness called the Balmer break. This unusual feature couldn’t be explained by massive galaxies or typical active galactic nuclei, leading researchers to propose the “black hole star” hypothesis.
If little red dots are indeed black hole stars, it could solve another puzzle. It could explain the emergence of supermassive black holes very early in the universe. The discovery is still at the beginning stage, and many more observations would be necessary to test the robustness of this scenario. However, if confirmed, it could revolutionize our understanding of cosmic objects and their evolution.
The true nature of little red dots remains a mystery, but further research using the James Webb Space Telescope could help uncover the truth. The discovery is a significant step forward in the field of astronomy, and scientists are eager to learn more about this new class of cosmic objects.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/black-holes/the-james-webb-telescope-may-have-discovered-a-brand-new-class-of-cosmic-object-the-black-hole-star