The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery, providing the first evidence of the existence of supermassive stars at the dawn of the universe, according to a report by Live Science. Previously, the largest stars observed had a mass of approximately 300 times that of our Sun. However, the JWST has now identified a supermassive star with an estimated mass ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 times that of the Sun. Referred to as “celestial monsters” by researchers, these colossal stars emerged a mere 440 million years after the Big Bang.
The findings were published on May 5 in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics by a team of European researchers. Lead study author Corinne Charbonnel, an astronomy professor at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, expressed her excitement, stating, “Today, thanks to the data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope, we believe we have found a first clue of the presence of these extraordinary stars.”
These supermassive stars, also known as celestial monsters, exhibit remarkable characteristics. They are estimated to be 5,000 to 10,000 times more massive than the Sun and possess a core temperature five times hotter, reaching a scorching 75 million degrees Celsius.
For decades, astronomers have been puzzled by the diverse composition of stars within globular clusters, which are found in almost every galaxy. The Milky Way, for instance, hosts at least 180 globular clusters. These clusters are home to some of the universe’s largest stars and can provide insights into the early stages of our universe.
Globular clusters have ages ranging from 10 to 13 billion years, while supermassive stars have a maximum lifespan of only two million years. Consequently, the supermassive stars disappeared early on from observable clusters, leaving behind only indirect traces, as explained by study co-author Mark Gieles, an ICREA professor at the University of Barcelona.
However, detecting these elusive supermassive stars has been challenging due to their short lifespans, as they consume their nuclear fusion fuel rapidly. In their research, the team focused the JWST’s infrared camera on the galaxy GN-z11, one of the most distant and ancient galaxies ever discovered, located 13.3 billion light-years away from Earth.
According to study team member Daniel Schaerer, an astronomy professor at the University of Geneva, GN-z11 has been identified as containing high proportions of nitrogen and a dense population of stars. By examining the scattered chemical residue of these ancient celestial monsters, the researchers have made significant strides in uncovering their existence.
The discovery of supermassive stars at such an early stage in the universe opens up new avenues for understanding the formation and evolution of celestial bodies. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to revolutionize our knowledge of the cosmos, providing astronomers with valuable insights into the mysteries of the universe’s origins.