NASA finds X-ray dot 11.8 billion light-years away
Updated
Updated · NASA · May 6
NASA finds X-ray dot 11.8 billion light-years away
10 articles · Updated · NASA · May 6
The object, 3DHST-AEGIS-12014, shares little red dot traits but uniquely emits X-rays, according to observations by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Scientists say it may help explain hundreds or thousands of little red dots discovered after the James Webb Space Telescope began science operations.
Researchers believe the finding could link hypothetical black hole stars with more typical growing supermassive black holes in the early universe.
Are the universe's mysterious 'little red dots' actually the nurseries for the first supermassive black holes?
Does this single X-ray dot solve the mystery of how giant black holes formed so early in time?
Chandra Detects Powerful X-rays from a Little Red Dot, Revealing Rapid Black Hole Growth 11.8 Billion Years Ago
Overview
In May 2025, astronomers discovered powerful X-rays from the Little Red Dot 3DHST-AEGIS-12014 by combining archived Chandra X-ray data with JWST infrared mapping. This detection revealed a transitional phase where the dense gas shroud around a rapidly growing supermassive black hole is dispersing, allowing X-rays to escape and show rapid variability. The findings challenge traditional models by showing black holes can grow faster than their host galaxies and question standard cosmology. The favored dense gas envelope model explains the LRD's unique properties, while ongoing debates focus on black hole formation pathways and the triggers for gas dispersal. This breakthrough redefines our understanding of early black hole evolution.