Webb Telescope Closes In on the True Nature of 'Little Red Dots,' a Mystery of the Early Universe

Explanation

Observations by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed that the early universe, not long after its birth, is filled with compact red objects known as 'Little Red Dots,' and research into their true nature is progressing.

Their red appearance is thought to be related to 'redshift,' in which the expansion of the universe stretches the wavelength of light, as well as the absorption of light by dust. It has been suggested that these objects may represent supermassive black holes that grew rapidly in the early universe, offering a clue to the fundamental question of which grew first, galaxies or black holes.