NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled peculiar “little red dots” (LRDs) in the distant universe, sparking fresh intrigue among astronomers. These enigmatic red objects, dating back to the first 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, challenge previous theories about the early universe’s structure.
A team of researchers studied these LRDs, revealing that many are likely galaxies harboring black holes at their centers. Astonishingly, 70% of these objects show signs of an active black hole pulling in surrounding gas—known as active galactic nuclei (AGN). LRDs were most prevalent around 600 million years after the Big Bang but became less common roughly 1.5 billion years later.
The findings emerged from data collected through Webb’s major surveys, including CEERS, JADES, and NGDEEP, resulting in the largest LRDs studied. While earlier assumptions suggested these were star-filled galaxies, the team found that their light primarily originates from growing black holes.
This groundbreaking research sheds light on black hole growth and galaxy evolution during the universe’s infancy, offering answers and raising new questions about its rapid development. The study, presented at the 245th American Astronomical Society meeting, will soon appear in The Astrophysical Journal.
