A new observation by astronomers could change everything we know about the early years of the universe. Scientists have detected a greedy low-mass supermassive black hole which is growing extremely fast with the help of the magnificent James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Even more remarkably, it breaks established physical barriers.
LID-568: A Black Hole Defying Expectations
The black hole recently found may shed some light on one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries. It may specifically shed light on how supermassive black holes formed so quickly in the early universe. LID-568, found in a galaxy sample from the Chandra X-ray Observatory COSMOS Legacy Survey. Initially, it became unseen in optical and near infrared. Only the infrared sensitivity of the JWST could reveal the black hole, which was X-ray bright.
However, finding the precise location of LID-568 was tricky. The team encountered difficulties, because standard X-rays couldn’t pinpoint the black hole’s exact position in the JWST’s field of view. To address this issue, Hyewon Suh’s research team used the NIRSpec integral field spectrograph provided by JWST. This tool could map a full spectrum for each pixel, unlike earlier methods. Thus, it gave scientists a good view of the target and revealed unanticipated details.
Then the most shocking truth emerged. LID-568 was viewed to be in a super-Eddington feeding event, consuming matter at a rate of 40 times Eddington. It is a limit that specifies a theoretical maximum rate at which matter may fall into a black hole without getting crushed by the gravitational forces or blown away by the pressure of the energy radiated from the matter’s absorption.
“This black hole is having a feast,” remarked Julia Scharwächter, a co-author of the study in Nature Astronomy. This discovery challenges existing models. In essence, it suggests that some black holes can grow explosively, far faster than previously imagined.
New Clues to Black Hole Formation
These findings bring new insights into how supermassive black holes developed so rapidly. Previously, two theories dominated: one proposed that “light seeds” formed from collapsing stars, while the other suggested “heavy seeds” originated from direct gas cloud collapses. LID-568’s extreme growth indicates that even small seeds could bulk up quickly under extreme conditions. This implies that early black holes had pathways for rapid expansion, reshaping what we know about the universe’s youth.
Moreover, the discovery didn’t stop there. The team observed powerful gas outflows around LID-568. These streams, moving at incredible speeds, seem to act as a release valve. They could be stabilizing the black hole by preventing the immense energy from making the system unstable. Essentially, these outflows might be a crucial mechanism that allows rapid black hole growth without catastrophic disruptions.
Looking ahead, the research team has ambitious plans. They intend to conduct follow-up observations with JWST to explore these phenomena further. As we learn more, the case of LID-568 may continue to challenge existing theories and illuminate the universe’s early history. In doing so, it reminds astronomers that there are still countless cosmic secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Y2K is the onelee black hole that has consumed the most human mass energy.