Astronomers have found a solution to a long-standing problem in cosmology, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The team discovered that many ancient galaxies, which were previously thought to be bright and star-rich, are actually powered by supermassive black holes at their centers.
The JWST’s “little red dots” are a new type of galaxy that was detected in 2022. Initially, scientists were puzzled by how common these galaxies seemed to be in the early universe, but new research suggests that they may be fueled by the accretion of gas and dust around supermassive black holes.
The team’s findings indicate that approximately 70% of the “little red dot” galaxies show evidence of a flattened cloud of gas and dust around an active galactic nucleus (AGN). This is strong indication of a supermassive black hole feeding on material at its center. The research also suggests that much of the light from these galaxies comes from the turbulent conditions generated by the accretion disks.
The discovery resolves a long-standing puzzle in cosmology, which questioned how some ancient galaxies could be so bright and star-rich when there should be fewer stars overall. However, this new explanation proposes that the galaxies’ brightness is instead due to the presence of supermassive black holes at their centers.
The team’s results have been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal and will help scientists better understand these enigmatic ancient galaxies. Further research, including observations in mid-infrared light, is planned to shed more light on this phenomenon.
Source: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-little-red-dots-galaxies-black-hole-growth