James Webb Telescope Identifies New Class of Object Called a Black Hole Star

Astronomers analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope have reported the discovery of an object designated MoM-BH*-1 that combines a black hole with an extensive shell of gas, giving it the appearance of a star the size of the solar system. The object is estimated to be about 100,000 times the mass of the Sun and emits energy roughly 100 billion times greater than that of known stars. Researchers say the black hole at its core formed less than 700 million years after the Big Bang.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, build on a hypothesis first proposed nearly two decades ago that such “quasi-stars” could exist. The hypothesis gained attention after Webb detected numerous red, compact sources in the early universe that did not match typical stellar or galactic signatures. Earlier observations had not detected the X-ray emissions expected from a central black hole, leading scientists to suggest that a dense gas envelope might obscure such radiation.

Lead author Rohan Naidu of the University of Hawai‘i explained that the team focused on one of these red objects after noticing an unusual drop in brightness at specific wavelengths, a pattern usually associated with dust-enshrouded young stars. Simulations indicated that a thick hydrogen layer could produce the observed spectral feature, with a central black hole accounting for the extreme luminosity.

“Every little red dot is consistent with being a black hole star, embedded in a generic early galaxy,” Naidu said in a statement. “What is special about MoM-BH*-1 is that the black hole star is essentially completely outshining its surrounding host galaxy, so we are seeing pure black-hole-star light.”

If confirmed, the discovery would imply that many of the previously unexplained red objects observed by Webb are also black hole stars, expanding understanding of early cosmic structures.