Astronomers discover Black Hole Growing at Rate Challenging Known physics
A newly discovered black hole, designated RACS J0320-35, is growing at a rate that defies established theoretical limits, according to research published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on September 8, 2025. The black hole is accreting mass 300 to 3,000 times that of our sun each year, significantly exceeding the Eddington limit – the theoretical maximum rate at which a black hole can grow based on the balance between radiation pressure and gravitational pull.
“It is very surprising to see this black hole growing quickly,” said Luca Ighina, lead author of the study and researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.
Black holes form from the collapse of massive stars, increasing in size by merging wiht other black holes and consuming surrounding matter. When material is pulled towards a black hole at near-light speed, it can create a bright ring of light or release energy in powerful bursts, forming quasars – some of the brightest objects in the universe, exceeding the size of entire galaxies.
Astronomers observed RACS J0320-35 by analyzing its X-ray emissions across different wavelengths, comparing the data with infrared and optical observations to estimate its mass and growth rate. the findings suggest this black hole’s rapid growth challenges current cosmological models.
Researchers hypothesize that RACS J0320-35 may have originated from the collapse of a massive star, less than 100 times the mass of our sun. The revelation, alongside other observations of super-Eddington black holes in the early universe, suggests these objects may have been more common in the universe’s early stages than previously thought.
“How does the universe create the frist generation of black holes? This remains one of the biggest questions in astrophysics, and one of these objects helps us find the answer,” said Thomas Connor, a colleague of Ighina’s at the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysics Center. Further research is planned to understand the origins and rapid growth of these early black holes.