Discovery of the Most Distant and Mysterious Feeding Black Hole in the Universe by the James Webb Space Telescope

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have made an incredible discovery: the most distant, actively-feeding supermassive black hole ever observed. This black hole, known as CEERS 1019, is also one of the least massive seen in the early universe, measuring the equivalent of about 9 million suns. The findings, part of the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey, are challenging scientists to explain how such a small black hole could exist in the early universe.

The team, led by University of Texas at Austin astronomer Steven Finkelstein, also identified two other black holes that existed 1 and 1.1 billion years after the Big Bang, as well as 11 galaxies that existed between 470 million and 675 million years into cosmic history. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the early universe and the formation of black holes.

“Until now, research about objects in the early universe was largely theoretical,” Finkelstein said. “With Webb, not only can we see black holes and galaxies at extreme distances, we can now start to accurately measure them. That’s the tremendous power of this telescope.”

The results from the CEERS survey were published in May in several papers in a special edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters. This marks the first findings from the survey, which aims to study the cosmic evolution of galaxies and black holes.

The black hole at the heart of CEERS 1019 is around 9 million solar masses, which may sound massive, but many supermassive black holes can grow to have billions of times the mass of our sun. The existence of black holes of this size in the early universe is puzzling to scientists because the processes by which supermassive black holes grow should take longer than the 570 million years this black hole had to work with.

“Looking at this distant object with this telescope is a lot like looking at data from black holes that exist in galaxies near our own,” said study co-author Rebecca Larson, a University of Texas at Austin doctoral student.

The JWST’s infrared capabilities have provided definitive proof of the existence of supermassive black holes in the early universe. The light emissions from CEERS 1019 reveal that it is actively feeding on matter around it. Feeding black holes like this one are surrounded by accretion disks, which are swirls of infalling gas and dust. The gravitational influence of the black hole heats this matter, causing the disk to glow brightly. Powerful magnetic fields also channel matter to the poles of the black hole, where it is occasionally blasted out in twin jets moving at near light-speed, generating intensely bright light.

Further observations of the black hole’s intense radiation could reveal how quickly its host galaxy is growing and provide insights into its mysterious past. The activity in this galaxy’s black hole could be fueled by a galaxy merger, which could also lead to increased star formation, according to study co-author Jeyhan Kartaltepe, a CEERS team member and associate professor of astronomy at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.

The discoveries made by the JWST and the CEERS survey are groundbreaking and open up new possibilities for studying the early universe and the formation of black holes. The power of the JWST to accurately measure and observe objects at extreme distances is revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos.

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Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. who specializes in science, space, physics, astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, quantum mechanics, and technology. Rob’s articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University.

How does the existence of CEERS 1019, a relatively small black hole, challenge current understanding of the early universe and the formation of black holes?

The existence of a remarkably distant supermassive black hole known as CEERS 1019. This discovery, made by astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), has challenged current understanding of the early universe.

CEERS 1019 is not only the most distant actively-feeding supermassive black hole ever observed, but it is also one of the least massive black holes seen in the early universe, measuring the equivalent of approximately 9 million suns. The findings, part of the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey, have scientists grappling with the question of how such a small black hole could exist in the early universe.

Led by University of Texas at Austin astronomer Steven Finkelstein, the team also found two other black holes that existed 1 and 1.1 billion years after the Big Bang, as well as 11 galaxies that existed between 470 million and 675 million years into cosmic history. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the early universe and the formation of black holes.

Finkelstein explained the significance of this discovery, stating, “Until now, research about objects in the early universe was largely theoretical. With Webb, not only can we see black holes and galaxies at extreme distances, we can now start to accurately measure them. That’s the tremendous power of this telescope.”

The results from the CEERS survey were published in May in special editions of the Astrophysical Journal Letters, marking the first findings from the survey, which aims to study the cosmic evolution of galaxies and black holes.

Although the black hole at the center of CEERS 1019 is around 9 million solar masses, it is worth noting that many supermassive black holes can grow to have billions of times the mass of our sun. The existence of black holes of this size in the early universe poses a puzzle to scientists because the processes by which supermassive black holes grow should theoretically take longer than the 570 million years that this black hole had to work with.

Study co-author Rebecca Larson, a University of Texas at Austin doctoral student, likened the experience of examining this distant object with the JWST to analyzing data from black holes that exist in galaxies near our own.

The JWST’s infrared capabilities have provided definitive proof of the existence of CEERS 1019, significantly advancing our understanding of the early universe and the formation of black holes.