The James Webb Space Telescope Has Detected ‘Little Red Dots’ That Are Nearly as Old as the Big Bang. They Shouldn’t Exist

The James Webb Space Telescope has once again showcased its remarkable sensitivity by detecting tiny red dots in the early universe. However, the mysterious objects challenge current theories of galaxy formation.

A puzzling finding. After reviewing images from the Webb telescope, astronomers recently identified a series of incredibly dense objects that existed roughly 12 billion years ago, shortly after the Big Bang.

These “little red dots” suggest that the first galaxies and black holes formed much faster than expected, contradicting the current theories on the evolution of the universe.

Tiny yet massive. These objects are only about 3% of the diameter of the Milky Way. Despite their tiny size, they may hold vast amounts of stars comparable to those in our home galaxy.

One distinctive feature is an intense red glow, which astronomers attribute to surrounding dust. This could indicate complex activity within these objects.

Some theories. One possibility that could explain the nature of these newly discovered cosmic objects is that they’re ultracompact galaxies with extremely rapid star formation. Their low angular momentum would make them more compact and denser, which could facilitate fast mass accretion at their centers.

Another theory suggests that these objects may harbor supermassive black holes that influence their luminosity and structure. This extreme compactness could accelerate star formation and promote the growth of massive black holes shortly after the Big Bang.

They shouldn’t exist. In any case, the abundance of these small red dots suggests that current cosmological models are outdated and require adjustments to explain how so many stars and massive structures formed in such a short period of time.

Scientists plan to continue using the Webb telescope and other instruments to learn more about these objects and determine their nature. They could provide vital information about how the first structures in the universe formed.

Image | NASA | Josephine F.W. Baggen et al. (2024)

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