Astronomers have discovered a galaxy called “Infinity” that provides direct evidence of the birth of a supermassive black hole. The discovery was made using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories.
The Infinity galaxy is composed of two recently collided galaxies, which appear to be merging into a single ring structure. At the center of this galaxy is a massive black hole that is feeding off the surrounding gas. This finding is significant because it challenges existing theories about how supermassive black holes form.
According to researchers, the formation of the Infinity galaxy and its central black hole provides a possible explanation for the existence of massive black holes in the early universe. The discovery also raises questions about the process by which these massive black holes are formed.
The “heavy seeds” theory proposes that large clouds of gas collapse to form massive black holes, but this process is thought to occur only under extreme conditions. The Infinity galaxy may demonstrate how such extreme conditions can lead to the creation of a black hole.
Lead researcher Pieter van Dokkum notes that this discovery is significant because it offers a unique insight into the early universe and provides direct evidence of a supermassive black hole just after its formation.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-infinity-evidence-black-hole-birth.html