JWST images illuminate 'black hole stars' at cosmic dawn (scientificamerican.com)

For four years, little red dots (LRDs) have been the hottest topic in astrophysics. Astronomers first noticed them in observations that NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) made in 2022. The LRDs weren’t exactly subtle—each is at least 100,000 times larger than our sun. And they exist in almost every swath of sky that JWST has surveyed as it peers at the universe’s first 1.5 billion years or so. Since their discovery, theorists have raced to explain what LRDs really are, how they came to be so ubiquitous and why they’re mostly absent from the modern-day universe. That debate is far from over—but many researchers are increasingly convinced that LRDs merit a different name entirely: black hole stars. According to this theory, LRDs are actually black holes enshrouded in and feeding on cocoons of hot, ionized gas—radiating much like stars as they grow. The crimson color stems from that outgoing light being reddened by the overlying layers of gas, much as sunlight scattering through Earth’s atmosphere can tint a sunset red. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful...