Astronomers utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have observed actively feeding, or "ravenous," black holes residing at the centers of galaxies from over 10 billion years ago. These observations, led by a team from the University of Kansas (KU), focused on a period known as "cosmic noon," which occurred 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang and was characterized by rapid star formation.
This discovery provides valuable insights into the co-evolution of galaxies and their central black holes in the early universe. The team conducted the MIRI EGS Galaxy and AGN (MEGA) survey, targeting the Extended Groth Strip, a region rich in galaxies located within the constellation Ursa Major.
JWST's infrared capabilities were crucial, enabling the researchers to penetrate the dust clouds that typically obscure these early galaxies. The observations revealed active galactic nuclei (AGNs), which are regions surrounding black holes intensely heated by gravitational forces as matter falls into them. Data from the MEGA survey indicates that some of the galaxies hosting these AGNs may be the progenitors of galaxies similar to our own Milky Way. By analyzing the feeding rates of these black holes, the rate of star formation within the galaxies, and their interactions with their environments, scientists can learn more about the formation history of our galaxy.