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Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of the most ancient black hole on record, and have determined that it is consuming its accompanying galaxy to its demise.
A team of scientists from the University of Cambridge utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to identify a black hole that formed 400 million years after the big bang, over 13 billion years ago.
The presence of a large black hole, which is several million times the size of our Sun, in the early stages of the universe contradicts previous beliefs about the formation and growth of black holes.
It is still too early in the history of the universe to observe a black hole of this size, therefore alternative possibilities for their creation must be taken into account.
Astronomers hypothesize that supermassive black holes, located at the center of galaxies such as the Milky Way, have gradually increased in size over billions of years.
Nevertheless, the magnitude of the recent finding indicates that they could potentially originate through alternative processes.
They may be naturally large at birth, or they have the ability to consume material at a rate that was previously believed to be five times greater than expected.
The main writer, Professor Roberto Maiolino, stated that it is unusual to observe a black hole of this size in the early universe, suggesting the need to explore alternative theories for their formation.
“In the past, galaxies were rich in gas and would have been a prime food source for black holes.”
According to conventional theories, supermassive black holes are created from the remains of deceased stars. These stars collapse and can potentially result in a black hole that is approximately a hundred times the size of the Sun.
If this was the method of growth, the recently discovered black hole would have taken approximately one billion years to reach its current size.
But, the black hole was found before the universe reached one billion years of age.
Similar to other black holes, this early black hole is consuming matter from its accompanying galaxy to support its expansion.
Nevertheless, the research indicates that it consumes matter at a much faster rate than its counterparts.
The GN-z11, a youthful host galaxy, has a black hole situated at its core.
According to researchers, GN-z11 is a small galaxy that is roughly one hundred times smaller than the Milky Way, but its development may be hindered by its black hole.
If a black hole engulfs an excessive amount of gas, it expels the gas at high speeds like a powerful gust, potentially halting the formation of stars and gradually destroying the galaxy.
This action would result in the destruction of the black hole, as it would no longer have a source of sustenance.
Professor Maiolino declares that the monumental progress brought about by the collaboration of NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) through the development of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made this the most thrilling period of his career.
He stated, “Prior to Webb’s launch, I had believed that the universe may not hold as much fascination beyond what the Hubble Space Telescope could capture.”
However, this has not been true at all. The universe has been very giving in what it has revealed to us, and this is only the start.
Although black holes cannot be observed directly, they can be identified by a distinct glow that appears near their edges and the emission of energy in the ultraviolet spectrum.
The study, backed by the European Research Council, the Royal Society, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has been published in the Nature journal.
Source: independent.co.uk
