The universe's oldest black hole has been observed

But the most striking detail that distinguishes this celestial body from others is its immense mass. With a mass 50 million times that of the Sun, this black hole has caused confusion in the scientific world by reaching such a size so early in the universe.

SCIENTISTS SUSPECT A PRIMORDIAL BLACK HOLE

According to the standard model, black holes are structures formed by the collapse of massive stars at the end of their lives. However, researchers say that current theory cannot explain the formation of such a massive black hole so early. Therefore, it is thought that the black hole may be a primordial, or primordial, black hole.

Primordial black holes are structures that formed in the universe's earliest seconds, before even stars. This idea was supported by renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. If the black hole observed by JWST, named QSO1, truly has such a structure, it could radically change what we know about the formation of the universe.

NO STARS, BUT WEIGHT: PARADOX

According to Professor Roberto Maiolino of the University of Cambridge, there is almost no sign of star formation around QSO1. The cloud of gas and dust surrounding the black hole is only half the mass of the black hole itself, suggesting that the black hole may have come from near-empty space, not a large galaxy.

Discovered during JWST's study of objects at the edge of the universe known as "Little Red Dots," QSO1 attracted attention for its exceptionally bright and intense structure. By analyzing the spectrum of this light, scientists were able to measure the black hole's mass and the nature of the surrounding matter.

THE BLACK HOLE WAS REVEALED TO BE "NAKED"

Analysis showed that QSO1's surroundings contained only hydrogen and helium, meaning heavy elements were almost entirely absent. This indicated that there was no star formation around the black hole, making it unlike a typical galaxy. This confirms that QSO1 is almost a "naked" black hole.

According to Professor Maiolino, this black hole raises the possibility that black holes may have formed around galaxies, rather than galaxies around black holes. This idea represents a complete paradigm shift for the current model of the universe.

Research continues

While the results of the study, still in its preliminary evaluation phase, have generated significant interest in the scientific community, the researchers emphasize caution. Lead author Dr. Ignas Juodžbalis noted that this observation alone will not lead to a definitive conclusion, and that new observations of another black hole, similar to those made by JWST, will be released in 2025.