Scientists have found the oldest black hole, more than 13 billion years old – Kommersant

Scientists at the Cambridge Institute, together with NASA specialists, using the James Webb Telescope, identified the oldest observed black hole in the galaxy GN-z11 (constellation Ursa Major). It was formed 400 years after the Big Bang, more than 13 billion years ago, reported press service Cambridge Institute.

Previously, scientists believed that supermassive black holes could only reach their size after billions of years. In observing the newly discovered black hole, scientists have suggested that black holes may be “born big” or absorbing matter from the galaxy at a rate five times greater than what was thought to be the maximum possible.

The discovered black hole is about 40 million years older than the one discovered by scientists in November 2023. It appeared 470 million years after the Big Bang and, as of last fall, was considered the oldest observed by scientists.

Lusine Balasyan