Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified a previously unknown class of cosmic object dubbed the black hole star. This discovery centers on an object known as MoM-BH*-1, which sits 100,000 times more massive than our Sun. While it appears as a giant, glowing red star the size of a solar system, its power source is fundamentally different from a typical star. Instead of nuclear fusion, the object is fueled by a central black hole that consumes surrounding matter.
Researchers detailed their findings in the journal Nature, noting that the object releases 100 billion times more energy than an average star. It is an ancient structure, existing less than 700 million years after the Big Bang. The black hole at its core is trapped within a dense shell of gas, which effectively masks the typical high-energy emissions expected from such a phenomenon. This unique configuration explains why the object has remained undetected until now.
This finding offers a potential solution to the mystery of the so-called little red dots identified by the James Webb Space Telescope in recent years. These compact, crimson objects previously defied scientific explanation because they were too massive to be standard stars but too dense to be conventional galaxies. If current models are correct, these little red dots are actually black hole stars.
Lead researcher Rohan Naidu from the University of Hawai’i states that this object is one of a kind. The team suggests that in the case of MoM-BH*-1, the light from the black hole star is so intense that it completely outshines its host galaxy, allowing astronomers to observe the object in isolation. This evidence marks a significant shift in our understanding of how early galaxies and massive black holes interact.