Black hole star discovered in early universe, study says

Astronomers say they have discovered a new type of astronomical object, called a black hole star, in the early universe.

The object, named MoM-BH*-1, was found by a US-led team using the James Webb Space Telescope, according to a study published in Nature. The study says it dates from 660 million years after the Big Bang.

The researchers say the object looks like a star about the size of the solar system, but produces 100 billion times more energy than any star. They said nuclear fusion, the normal power source of stars, could not explain that output.

Using modelling simulations, the team concluded that the most likely explanation is a central black hole surrounded by a cocoon of gas, making the object resemble a star.

The finding may help explain the bright early-universe objects known as little red dots, which have puzzled scientists since the James Webb Space Telescope began operating in 2022. Lead study author Rohan Naidu of Hawaii University said every little red dot is consistent with being a black hole star, but that MoM-BH*-1 is unusual because it appears to outshine its surrounding host galaxy.