Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), uncovering the most distant and oldest black hole ever observed. This black hole resides in the ancient galaxy GN-z11, located 13.4 billion light-years away, providing a glimpse into the universe just 400 million years after the Big Bang. With a mass 6 million times that of the sun, this black hole is feeding on matter from its surrounding galaxy at a rate five times higher than what current theories suggest is sustainable.
The team of astronomers, led by Roberto Maiolino from the University of Cambridge Department of Physics, hailed this discovery as a significant leap forward in black hole science. “It’s very early in the universe to see a black hole this massive, so we’ve got to consider other ways they might form,” said Maiolino. He speculates that the gas-rich nature of early galaxies may have provided an abundant food source for black holes.
The size of early supermassive black holes has posed a challenge for scientists, as it is difficult to explain how they reached such massive sizes in less than 1 billion years. John Reagan, a research fellow at Maynooth University, likens this conundrum to seeing a family with two tall teenagers and a tall toddler. The question arises: how did the toddler grow so quickly? Similarly, scientists are puzzled by how supermassive black holes grew to their enormous sizes in such a short period.
Currently, there are two main theories regarding the formation of supermassive black holes in the early universe. One theory suggests that they start as small black hole seeds formed from collapsing massive stars. Over millions or billions of years, these seeds grow into supermassive black holes through constant feeding and mergers. The other theory proposes that vast clouds of cold gas and dust collapse to form “heavy black hole seeds” with masses several million times that of the sun. This theory allows for a head start in the feeding and merger processes, bypassing the need for stellar evolution.
The discovery of the ancient black hole in GN-z11, with a mass a few million times that of the sun, supports the heavy seed theory. However, the rapid rate at which this black hole is accreting matter suggests that black holes may be capable of feeding much faster than previously observed. This challenges the notion that black holes have a limit to how fast they can accumulate mass without the emitted radiation pushing that mass away.
The feeding frenzy of this black hole is not only responsible for its host galaxy, GN-z11, but also likely to stunt its growth. Ultrafast winds of particles emitted from the black hole are pushing away gas and dust from the galaxy’s core, halting the birth of new stars and hindering the growth of the galaxy.
Despite these fascinating discoveries, the team behind this research believes that there is much more to uncover with the JWST. They hope to use its enhanced sensitivity, especially in the infrared, to detect small black hole seeds in the early universe and shed light on the premature growth of supermassive black holes.
The publication of this research in the journal Nature marks a new era in our understanding of black holes and the universe. The JWST has proven to be a game-changer, providing unprecedented insights into the cosmos. “Before the JWST came online, I thought maybe the universe isn’t so interesting when you go beyond what we could see with the Hubble Space Telescope,” said Maiolino. “But that hasn’t been the case at all: The universe has been quite generous in what it’s showing us, and this is just the beginning.”
With each new discovery, astronomers are unraveling the mysteries of our universe and taking us one step closer to understanding its origins and evolution. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to push the boundaries of our knowledge, opening up a world of possibilities for future exploration.
