New space object called "black hole star" discovered by astronomers

Astronomers have discovered a new type of astronomical object dubbed a "black hole star," potentially solving a mystery involving strange red dots spotted in the early universe. This unusual object, which dates back 660 million years after the Big Bang, was detected by a U.S.-led team using the James Webb Space Telescope. The black hole star appears as a star-sized celestial body but emits 100 billion times more energy than any known star, much like a black hole.

The team, led by Rohan Naidu from the University of Hawaii, was initially searching for answers to another mystery: why JWST keeps finding bright galaxies in the early universe when it was thought to be too early for them to evolve so large. While examining images, they spotted a little red dot. Typically, red objects in the universe are thought to be obscured by dust, similar to how wildfire smoke can make the sky appear redder.

However, in this case, the object's light disappeared at certain wavelengths, indicating that it is not dust causing its red color, but rather hydrogen gas.

Using modeling simulations, the researchers concluded that the object is most likely powered by a central black hole surrounded by a gas cocoon, making it resemble a star. They named the object MoM-BH*-1, suggesting there may be more out there. What sets MoM-BH*-1 apart is that it outshines its surrounding host galaxy, revealing pure black hole star light.

This discovery has significant implications for understanding the evolution of galaxies and the life cycles of stars, particularly in extreme environments near supermassive black holes.