We've just discovered the most distant supermassive black hole ever. And boy, is it one massive infant!
Nov 10, 2023, 10:56 IST
Similar to humans, black holes exhibit various sizes and forms from the outset. Even with this large variance, the James Webb Space Telescope and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have managed to pinpoint a distinct outlier. Situated 13.2 billion light-years away in the UHZ1 galaxy, this colossal supermassive black hole defies expectations with its immense size at a relatively young age, prompting scientists to ponder its origins.
Utilizing data from the James Webb Space Telescope, it was revealed that this black hole emerged just 470 million years after the Big Bang when the universe was a mere 3% of its current age. With a mass ranging from 10-100 million Suns, it is considered the first detection of an 'Outsize Black Hole,' providing compelling evidence that certain black holes form from massive gas clouds. During a brief phase, this supermassive black hole matched the combined mass of the stars in its galaxy, offering a unique glimpse into its development.
Notably, the discovery was facilitated by gravitational lensing from the Abell 2744 galaxy cluster, amplifying X-rays emitted by the black hole. This phenomenon, where gravity bends and intensifies energy, played a crucial role in detecting the faint X-ray source. The revelation challenges the conventional notion that most black holes originate from explosive star deaths, suggesting that some, like this distant counterpart, may arise directly from the collapse of massive gas clouds at the start of our universe.
Scientists speculate that this unconventional birthing process could lead to black holes 10,000 to 100,000 times the mass of the Sun, often rivaling the combined mass of stars in their host galaxies. In contrast, nearby black holes, formed through more conventional means, typically possess only 10% of their host galaxies' mass.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking discovery not only enhances our cosmic comprehension but also raises new inquiries about the genesis of these celestial behemoths, reshaping our understanding of the early universe.
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Utilizing data from the James Webb Space Telescope, it was revealed that this black hole emerged just 470 million years after the Big Bang when the universe was a mere 3% of its current age. With a mass ranging from 10-100 million Suns, it is considered the first detection of an 'Outsize Black Hole,' providing compelling evidence that certain black holes form from massive gas clouds. During a brief phase, this supermassive black hole matched the combined mass of the stars in its galaxy, offering a unique glimpse into its development.
Notably, the discovery was facilitated by gravitational lensing from the Abell 2744 galaxy cluster, amplifying X-rays emitted by the black hole. This phenomenon, where gravity bends and intensifies energy, played a crucial role in detecting the faint X-ray source. The revelation challenges the conventional notion that most black holes originate from explosive star deaths, suggesting that some, like this distant counterpart, may arise directly from the collapse of massive gas clouds at the start of our universe.
Scientists speculate that this unconventional birthing process could lead to black holes 10,000 to 100,000 times the mass of the Sun, often rivaling the combined mass of stars in their host galaxies. In contrast, nearby black holes, formed through more conventional means, typically possess only 10% of their host galaxies' mass.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking discovery not only enhances our cosmic comprehension but also raises new inquiries about the genesis of these celestial behemoths, reshaping our understanding of the early universe.