James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Hidden Black Holes in Dusty Galaxies

In a groundbreaking study, astronomers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University, and other institutions have utilized data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to unveil previously hidden black holes in nearby galaxies. Published in the *Astrophysical Journal Letters* on July 24, 2025, this research marks the first time that JWST has successfully observed black holes consuming stars within dusty environments, highlighting the telescope's advanced capabilities in infrared astronomy.

The study focuses on tidal disruption events (TDEs), phenomena that occur when a galaxy's central black hole captures a nearby star, tearing it apart and releasing significant bursts of energy. Although approximately 100 TDEs have been documented since the 1990s, primarily via X-ray or optical observations in clearer galaxies, many remain undetected due to obscuration by cosmic dust. According to the research team, led by Megan Masterson from MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, the JWST's sensitivity allowed them to identify four TDE instances in dusty galaxies, confirming the existence of dormant black holes that become momentarily active during such events.

The researchers emphasized that traditional telescopes often miss these events because the X-ray and optical light emitted is obscured by interstellar dust. Instead, the JWST detected infrared signals that are generated when the burst of energy from a TDE heats surrounding dust. This innovative approach revealed clear indicators of black hole accretion, a process in which matter is drawn into a black hole, generating significant radiation as it spirals inward. Additionally, the research team was able to distinguish the environments surrounding dormant black holes from those of active ones by analyzing the dust patterns.

In their previous work, the researchers, including co-authors Christos Panagiotou and Erin Kara from MIT, along with Kishalay De from Columbia University, had identified twelve potential TDE candidates using data from NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE). The team applied a new algorithm to sift through a decade's worth of data, successfully pinpointing infrared transients that could signal black hole activity. Masterson noted, "With JWST, we’re seeing the full spectrum of light, enabling us to confirm these events more definitively."

The research team found that the infrared emissions from the four identified TDEs were consistent with the accretion of stellar debris by black holes, and they observed that the patterns of dust around these black holes differed significantly from those surrounding active black holes. The findings suggest that the black holes studied were not continuously active but rather dormant entities that could become active under specific conditions, highlighting the dynamic nature of black hole behavior in the universe.

This study provides a significant advancement in the understanding of black holes and their environments. The ability to detect and analyze TDEs in dusty galaxies opens new avenues for exploring the fundamental properties of black holes, including mass and spin rates, through the study of how stars are shredded and consumed. Masterson and her colleagues plan to continue their investigations into TDEs using JWST, NEOWISE, and other infrared telescopes, aiming to uncover more of these hidden cosmic events and deepen our understanding of black hole dynamics.

The implications of this research extend beyond black holes; they contribute to the broader field of astrophysics by enhancing our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution, as well as the complex interactions between stars and black holes. The findings underscore the vital role that advanced telescopes like JWST play in revealing the hidden aspects of our universe, suggesting that many more discoveries await in the vast and enigmatic realms of space.