A team of international astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory has made a groundbreaking discovery, finding a supermassive black hole in one of the earliest galaxies in the Universe. This finding challenges previous theories about the formation of such massive objects and provides new insights into the early evolution of galaxies.

The researchers focused on 11 galaxies identified by the James Webb Space Telescope, which were imaged as they existed less than a billion years after the Big Bang. By examining these galaxies for the presence of supermassive black holes, the team aimed to understand their role in the early Universe.

The spotlight fell on a galaxy named UHZ1, which was magnified fourfold by gravitational lensing. Using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the researchers detected significant amounts of X-rays coming from this location. The intensity of the X-ray source indicated that an active galactic nucleus was present, a characteristic of supermassive black holes.

This finding is particularly remarkable because UHZ1 exists at a redshift of z=10, corresponding to approximately 500 million years after the Big Bang. The sheer size and activity of the black hole at such an early stage in the Universe's history present a significant challenge for existing theories on black hole formation.

The researchers estimate that the black hole in UHZ1 accounts for about half of the galaxy's mass, an astonishing proportion when compared to modern galaxies. This suggests that supermassive black holes may have formed without the need for an intermediate step involving a star, contrary to previous assumptions.

To understand the implications of this discovery, scientists turned to the Eddington Limit, a fundamental concept that defines the maximum rate at which a black hole can accumulate material from its surroundings. This limit is determined by the fact that matter must lose energy to fall into the black hole, which leads to radiation being emitted and preventing further material from being consumed.

While there are ways to potentially exceed the Eddington Limit through specific gas configurations, known as super-Eddington feeding, this phenomenon is thought to be temporary. The presence of a supermassive black hole in UHZ1, formed only half a billion years after the Big Bang, implies that alternative mechanisms for black hole growth must be explored.

The discovery of this early formation of a supermassive black hole challenges our understanding of the Universe's infancy. With further exploration and research, scientists hope to gain deeper insights into the mysterious origins and evolution of these colossal cosmic entities.

Note: The article is generated based solely on the information provided and may not reflect the full scope of the research or the implications of the discovery.