A faraway fluctuating quasar has been seen dimming and brightening by an extraordinary amount, changes in luminosity equivalent to 2 trillion times the brightness of the sun.

early universe

Who

Gene Leung and Anna-Christina Eilers

What

When

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT · 2h 20m ago

Where

early universe ·

Why

The quasar's flickering indicates how gas is being fed into the black hole, which helps reveal how supermassive black holes grow.

The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This discovery of a mature-appearing quasar from 12.9 billion years ago provides new evidence for the theory that supermassive black holes formed and developed exceptionally early in the universe's history. It challenges previous assumptions about the growth phases of black holes, suggesting they mature much faster than previously thought.

Story chain

4 events in this thread

Currently Reading2h 20m ago
A faraway fluctuating quasar has been seen dimming and brightening by an extraordinary amount, changes in luminosity equivalent to 2 trillion times the brightness of the sun.
Health & Science2h 20m ago
A faraway fluctuating quasar has been seen dimming and brightening by an extraordinary amount, changes in luminosity equivalent to 2 trillion times the brightness of the sun.
Open article
Health & Science2h 20m ago
A faraway fluctuating quasar dating back 12.9 billion years has been observed dimming and brightening with luminosity changes equivalent to 2 trillion times the brightness of the sun.
Open article
Health & Science2h 20m ago
A faraway fluctuating quasar has been seen dimming and brightening by an extraordinary amount, changes in luminosity equivalent to 2 trillion times the brightness of the sun.
Open article

Verified Sources & Citations

Space
https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/could-the-secret-to-black-hole-formation-be-locked-away-in-this-record-breaking-ancient-quasar
HIGH

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