This question has been a constant concern for astronomers for many years. How did supermassive dark holes grow so fast? Scientists are now closer to finding the answer than ever before.
NASA revealed last week that there was a missing link between the universe's first supermassive dark holes and young star-forming galaxies. This helps to explain some of the mysteries surrounding how the universe formed.
Astronomers discovered a rapidly expanding black hole using data from the Hubble Satellite Telescope. They named it GNz7q. Scientists claim it has been "lurking unsuspecting" in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey - North field, one of the most studied areas of the sky.
A team of international researchers used archival data from Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys to determine that the "monster” object existed only 750 million years after Big Bang. This was during the "cosmic dawn", which is the first period after the birth and development of the universe. It is the first object of its kind.
Scientists discovered a compact source for ultraviolet and infrared radiation that could not be attributed solely to star formation. Instead, it matches the radiation from materials falling into a dark hole. Scientists believe that a rapidly-growing black hole, covered in dust, is the best explanation. This will eventually become a quasar which is a bright source of light at a baby galaxy's heart.
Computer simulations and theories predicted that this type of black hole would transform into a luminous quasar, but it has never been observed. Nature published the findings.
Seiji Fujimoto, the lead author of the analysis, stated that GNz7q was the first instance of a rapidly expanding black hole in a dusty core in a starburst galaxie at an epoch very close to the earliest known supermassive black holes in the universe. "The object's electromagnetic spectrum properties are excellently in agreement with theoretical simulations.
Fujimoto continued, "GNz7q provides an indirect connection between these rare populations and opens up a new avenue for understanding the rapid growth in supermassive black hole formation in the early days." "Our discovery is a precursor to supermassive dark holes that we will observe in later epochs."
Scientists say that the data is consistent with their previous theories. However, scientists are open to other interpretations. The scientists were shocked to find the massive discovery in a location that may have been more obvious, which suggests the possibility of other similar objects.
Gabriel Brammer, a team member, said that GNz7q was a rare discovery. It was located at the center a well-studied skyfield. This shows that even big discoveries can be hidden right in front of you. It's unlikely that GNz7q was discovered within the small GOODS North survey area. However, it's possible that such sources are more common than previously believed.
The team will then use dedicated surveys to search for similar objects. The James Webb Space Telescope's spectroscopic instruments will be used by researchers to study GNz7q more closely and determine how common these objects are.
