James Webb Finds 3 Massive Black Holes 12.5 Billion Light-Years Away in Early Galaxy
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · Aug 12
James Webb Finds 3 Massive Black Holes 12.5 Billion Light-Years Away in Early Galaxy
3 articles · Updated · New Scientist · Aug 12
Summary
J0148-4214, seen as it was 1.2 billion years after the big bang, appears to host three massive black holes in one galaxy—an unexpectedly complex system for such an early epoch.
James Webb data showed a peculiar central emission profile and two regions of high-velocity hydrogen gas, pointing to two accreting black holes just 620 light-years apart.
A third high-velocity gas region in the galaxy’s outskirts indicates another growing black hole more than 5,500 light-years from the inner pair.
Researchers said alternatives including a single black hole, supernovae, shocks, winds and massive stars did not fit the observations; outside astronomers called a triple system the strongest explanation so far.
The finding suggests early-universe processes could bring massive black holes together quickly, making mergers a fast route for black hole growth soon after the big bang.