A team of astronomers led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) discovered a highly red, gravitationally lensed supermassive black hole in the early universe. The James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) discovery is changing our understanding of galaxy evolution.
Despite its dense dust cover, this massive black hole outshines its galaxy, defying nearby patterns. The UNCOVER program’s detailed images of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 led to this discovery.
The images, which resembled a lensed quasar from the early universe, excite researchers. Lukas Furtak, the lead author and BGU postdoctoral researcher, said the object’s’red-dot’ appearance suggested quasar-like properties. The team used a numerical lensing model to confirm that the red dots were multiple images of the same source, revealing a 700-million-year-old universe.
JWST/NIRSpec data on the “red dot” revealed its supermassive black hole identity. Examination revealed its precise redshift and significant mass compared to the host galaxy. Princeton University Professor Jenny Greene noted that the black hole accounts for at least 1% of the system’s mass.
These findings spark new discussions about supermassive black hole expansion and their complex relationships with host galaxies in the ancient universe. Professor Adi Zitrin called the debate over whether galaxies or black holes form first the “astrophysical version of the chicken and egg dilemma.” As the JWST explores celestial mysteries, astronomers eagerly await new insights into ancient cosmic structures.
