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Astronomers may have discovered a completely new type of cosmic object hiding in the early universe. Called MoM-BH-1*, the mysterious object appears to combine characteristics of a star and a black hole, leading researchers to describe it as a “black hole star.”

The extraordinary object was observed with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and dates to a time when the universe was only about 660 million years old. Its unusual properties could provide important clues about one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries: how enormous black holes managed to grow so quickly in the universe’s infancy.

What Is MoM-BH*-1?

MoM-BH*-1 is an extremely distant and compact object that appears as a small, red source in JWST observations. Despite its star-like appearance, its enormous energy output cannot easily be explained by ordinary stars powered by nuclear fusion.

Researchers instead believe the object could contain a massive black hole surrounded by an extremely dense envelope of gas. The gas would effectively hide the black hole while allowing energy from material falling into it to escape as radiation.

The result is something that can look surprisingly similar to a star from a great cosmic distance—but whose energy is actually being generated by a rapidly feeding black hole.

A Black Hole Hidden Inside a Gas Cocoon

The leading explanation for MoM-BH*-1 involves a massive black hole surrounded by a thick shell of hydrogen-rich gas.

Models suggest that the dense gas could extend across a region comparable to the size of our solar system. At the center, matter would be falling toward the black hole, releasing enormous amounts of energy as it accelerates and heats up.

The surrounding gas would absorb and reshape some of that radiation, producing the unusual spectrum that JWST detected.

This helps explain why MoM-BH*-1 doesn’t look like a conventional quasar or ordinary star. Instead, astronomers see what may be a black hole wrapped in a stellar-looking atmosphere.

Why the James Webb Space Telescope Was Essential

The discovery demonstrates why the James Webb Space Telescope has become so important for studying the early universe.

Because light travels at a finite speed, looking extremely far away also means looking back in time. JWST’s infrared capabilities allow astronomers to observe some of the earliest objects that formed after the Big Bang.

MoM-BH*-1 was identified during the Mirage or Miracle (MoM) survey, which was designed to investigate unusual sources in the distant universe.

Instead of finding simply another early galaxy, researchers encountered an object whose properties appeared to demand a different explanation.

An Object Too Bright to Be an Ordinary Star

One of the most important clues is MoM-BH*-1’s extraordinary luminosity.

Its energy output is far beyond what researchers would expect from a conventional star of comparable apparent size. That makes ordinary stellar fusion an unlikely explanation and points toward accretion onto a black hole as the source of its immense energy.

The object’s spectrum also contains unusual absorption features associated with extremely dense gas. Together, these characteristics support the idea that astronomers are observing a black hole buried inside a massive gaseous environment.

Could This Explain the “Little Red Dots”?

The discovery may also help solve another major JWST mystery.

Since JWST began observing the early universe, astronomers have identified numerous extremely compact, reddish objects informally called “little red dots.” Their true nature has been the subject of intense debate.

Some researchers have suggested that at least some of these objects contain rapidly growing black holes surrounded by dense gas.

MoM-BH*-1 provides a particularly compelling example because the black-hole-powered source appears to dominate the observed light rather than being hidden within a much brighter galaxy.

If additional observations confirm that similar objects are also black hole stars, astronomers could have a new explanation for a significant portion of the little red dot population.

A Possible Missing Link in Black Hole Evolution

Perhaps the most exciting implication of MoM-BH*-1 involves the formation of supermassive black holes.

Astronomers have observed black holes containing hundreds of millions or even billions of solar masses surprisingly early in cosmic history. The problem is that conventional models have difficulty explaining how they could grow so large in such a short period of time.

A black hole star could provide part of the answer.

In this scenario, a massive black hole forms early, becomes surrounded by enormous quantities of gas and grows rapidly. The dense gas envelope could provide the material needed for continued accretion while also producing the unusual appearance detected by JWST.

Researchers have proposed that objects such as MoM-BH*-1 could represent an early stage in the evolution of the massive black holes that eventually become the engines powering quasars and the centers of galaxies.

Is It Really a New Type of Star?

Despite the name, a “black hole star” isn’t a conventional star with a black hole inside it in the familiar sense.

The term describes a theoretical and observational model in which a black hole is embedded within an extremely dense gaseous environment that produces a star-like appearance.

That distinction is important because researchers are still investigating whether MoM-BH*-1 represents a distinct class of cosmic object or a particular phase in the evolution of rapidly growing black holes.

Additional JWST observations and future studies will be needed to test the model.

What Happens Next?

MoM-BH*-1 is likely to become an important target for future observations.

Astronomers want to determine exactly how its gas is distributed, how rapidly the central black hole is growing, and whether similar objects can be found throughout the early universe.

Recent research has already suggested that black-hole-star candidates may exist across a surprisingly broad range of cosmic distances, indicating that the phenomenon may not be limited to the universe’s earliest moments.

If that evidence continues to build, black hole stars could become an important piece of the story of how galaxies and supermassive black holes evolved.

A New Window Into the Early Universe

The discovery of MoM-BH-1* is another reminder that the early universe was far stranger and more complicated than astronomers once imagined.

What initially looks like a tiny red star may actually be a massive black hole buried beneath an enormous cocoon of gas. By studying objects like this, scientists may finally begin to understand how the universe produced enormous black holes so quickly after the Big Bang.

For now, MoM-BH*-1 remains an extraordinary cosmic puzzle—but it could ultimately become a key to understanding the origins of the universe’s most powerful objects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MoM-BH-1?*
MoM-BH*-1 is a distant cosmic object observed by the James Webb Space Telescope that researchers believe may be a “black hole star”—a massive black hole surrounded by an extremely dense envelope of gas.

How old is MoM-BH-1?*
The object dates to roughly 660 million years after the Big Bang, placing it deep in the early universe.

What is a black hole star?
A black hole star is a proposed type of object in which a rapidly accreting black hole is surrounded by dense gas that makes the system appear star-like.

Why is MoM-BH-1 important?*
It could help explain how massive black holes formed and grew so rapidly in the early universe and may also provide clues about the mysterious little red dots detected by JWST.

Did the James Webb Space Telescope discover it?
JWST observations were crucial to identifying and analyzing MoM-BH*-1 and revealing its unusual infrared properties.

Could black hole stars be common?
It is not yet known. Researchers are investigating whether MoM-BH*-1 represents a rare phenomenon or an evolutionary stage shared by many of the little red dots seen by JWST.