Recent simulations offer a fresh perspective on one of astronomy’s biggest puzzles: how supermassive black holes grew so quickly in the early universe. These findings may also shed light on the mysterious “little red dots” observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Almost all galaxies, including our Milky Way, harbor supermassive black holes at their centers—some reaching billions of times the Sun’s mass. Their rapid formation in less than a billion years has puzzled scientists for decades. A new theory suggests that runaway mergers of smaller black holes, ejected from their host galaxies, could have contributed significantly to their accelerated growth.

In 2022, JWST revealed numerous tiny red objects at the universe’s edge, sparking debate about their nature. Experts now believe many of these “red dots” might be nascent supermassive black holes, forming through a process involving black hole collisions and ejections. According to astrophysicist Dr. Jane Smith, “these observations support models where black hole mergers and dynamic interactions play a crucial role in early galaxy evolution.”

This research helps answer critical questions about black hole formation and the evolution of galaxies, offering a clearer picture of our cosmic history.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.