'Impossible' black holes detected by James Webb telescope may finally have an explanation — if this ultra-rare form of matter exists
Feb 06, 2025
Scientists have discovered big, fast-growing black holes in space using the James Webb Space Telescope. They think a mysterious kind of matter called dark matter might be behind it. Dark matter is invisible and only interacts with gravity. It helps galaxies form, but we don't know much about it. The standard theory can't explain these supermassive black holes that formed very quickly after the Big Bang.
Researchers came up with a new idea involving ultra-self-interacting dark matter. This special kind of dark matter can clump together and form black hole seeds. These seeds could grow into supermassive black holes very quickly. By studying quasars, bright objects powered by black holes, scientists found their model worked.
The new theory makes predictions that can be tested. Scientists can look for intermediate-size black holes in smaller galaxies to see if the model is right. The James Webb Space Telescope will continue to find more black holes, helping scientists refine their ideas. This discovery could change our understanding of how black holes form and evolve in the universe.
In simple words, scientists found really big black holes that grew super fast in space. They think a special kind of dark matter might be the reason. By studying bright objects called quasars, they came up with a new idea to explain how these black holes formed. This discovery could teach us more about how the universe works.