A research team at the University of Texas at Austin’s Cosmic Frontier Center has identified the oldest known supermassive black hole, created just 500 million years after the Big Bang. This ancient black hole, about 300 million times the mass of our sun, is a significant find as it pushes the boundaries of what scientists thought was possible in terms of how black holes formed and evolved.
The team, led by Anthony Taylor, analyzed light emitted from distant galaxies known as “little red dots,” which were initially believed to be either old stars or active-black-hole-driven objects. However, their findings confirmed that these galaxies contain an extremely old supermassive black hole.
This discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of our own galaxy and its black hole. By studying this ancient black hole, scientists can gain a better understanding of how black holes grew and developed in the early universe.
The research team’s findings are published in the Astrophysical Journal of Letters, offering a new perspective on the origins of supermassive black holes and their role in shaping the cosmos.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/13/nx-s1-5500427/research-team-identifies-oldest-known-supermassive-black-hole