JWST Challenges Cosmology: Too-Big Black Holes and Too-Bright Galaxies
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected unexpectedly massive black holes and overly bright galaxies in the early universe, challenging established astrophysical models. This article presents three core puzzles: 'little red dots' that may be black holes shrouded in dense gas or a new class of 'black hole stars'; supermassive black holes that seem to exceed Eddington-limited growth, potentially explained by super-Eddington accretion or direct collapse; and galaxies too luminous for their age, possibly due to higher star-formation efficiency, starburst episodes, or a top-heavy initial mass function. Observational evidence like MIRI's detection of galaxy diversity and nitrogen overabundance is discussed, alongside recent simulations that better match high-redshift data. The piece features candid interviews with astrophysicists (Charlotte Mason, Jenny Greene, Rachel Somerville) and focuses on competing theories without PR hype.