Has JWST found supermassive DARK MATTER stars?

A research paper was published this month that claims to have found evidence for the existence of supermassive dark stars in the early Universe using JWST data. A clump of gas powered by dark matter annihilation which can grow to a million times more massive than the Sun and outshine an entire galaxy. But are these objects really “dark stars” or are they just galaxies like we expect?

00:00 - Introduction
01:20 - What is a supermassive dark matter star?
02:06 - What is dark matter annihilation?
04:15 - How do these dark matter stars become supermassive?
06:25 - Ground News AD
07:57 - What does the light look like from a supermassive dark star? How do you find one?
10:17 - The objects first identified as galaxies in JWST data
11:54 - The evidence from JWST data for supermassive dark stars
13:00 - Why we care: REIONIZATION and Population III stars
15:06 - Is an analysis of the JWST spectra coming next?
16:17 - The other problems in astrophysics this would solve
17:12 - Outro
17:48 - BLOOPERS

Video filmed on a Sony ⍺7 IV
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👩🏽‍💻 I'm Dr. Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford (Christ Church). I love making videos about science with an unnatural level of enthusiasm. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. And especially, the things we still don't know. If you've ever wondered about something in space and couldn't find an answer online - you can ask me! My day job is to do research into how supermassive black holes can affect the galaxies that they live in. In particular, I look at whether the energy output from the disk of material orbiting around a growing supermassive black hole can stop a galaxy from forming stars.

[distantignition]

Just finished reading your book, and I love how you explore these weird ideas without really giving them undue credence. This video is another example of that. One of my favorites is the potential that Planet 9 is actually a primordial black hole. For someone that's not a scientist but is obsessed with science anyway, those weird ideas are the most fun part of learning for me, even if they're eventually disproven.

[AlcyonEldara]

And a big thanks to Dr Becky to explaining why this paper is:
-speculative
-serious
-needs a follow-up
-interesting

Thanks again, Dr Becky, for your wonderful videos, and your good work in general!

[Teaboyseej]

Just finished listening to your audiobook. Fascinating. I wish I had teachers back in the day that could put across information as well as you do. Congratulations.

[rocketsocks]

I think I'm on team dark star, they do seem to explain a lot. Rapid formation of supermassive black holes. And possibly even SMBH mergers due to dynamical friction from the large leftover dark matter halos. But we'll have to wait for a lot more observational evidence.

[johnmccausland]

I got my Dr Becky JWST T shirt today. I'm actually blown away with the attention to detail! I thought it would just be a bunch of goldish hexagons, but the detail of the refraction pattern, and wee galaxies and stars among the mirrors are truly amazing!

I'm not a twitterite, so can't share the image on there, but thanks for creating such an amazing channel, and actual great merch.

I'm so geeking out that the galaxies are shown as red shifted, but given a white core. ❤️

[cawareyoudoin]

I was thinking of Good Omens when you started talking about the universe becoming transparent, and lo and behold, you had the same thought! Can't believe my favourite science channel referenced my favourite fictional media! :D

[judithflow]

With their model for the supermassive dark stars being potentially brighter than most galaxies, it does make sense to look for such stars specifically between the most distant detections, because many of the most distant galaxies might not be bright enough to be seen, weeding out a lot of non-candidates for their theory. So I have to give em that they were clever about that part.

[robbierobinson]

You are my go-to source for coverage of the newest cosmology chatter, so was hoping you would get to this one soon. Thanks. Although the whole idea of supermassive dark stars really excites me, your skepticism seems well founded at this stage. The best fit lines leave quite a bit to be explained before taking them as real. In at least one plot there are a couple of points that are far enough off the fitted line that they really weaken any relationship. As you say of the spectrum plots, there could be plenty of unexplained features in the noise. I hope this group puts out more comprehensive papers soon.

[joyl]

I personally love this explanation for the formation of the first SMBH's. It makes sense in every way. Let's hope more evidence is found.

[holgerspielmann]

Thanks for this great and informative video 👍🏻
Any mention of a Dark Star also triggers me to remember that very movie by John Carpenter, even if absolutely unrelated here.

[Quarkburger]

I'm with you. When I saw another youtube video reporting on this I thought it was clickbait. This is pretty incredible!

[ariedekker]

Thanks for making this video.
It was again a lot of information in such a short time.
I've survived it.
Again thanks.

[johnniemcbride]

This is the first of your videos that I've watched. Excellent presentation of information. Your voice is wonderful and understandable. I love the bloopers, too.

[RaeanneNichol]

Read all 3 of your books and just signed up for Ground News. Thanks so much for your: coverage of current news, recommendations and of course the discount.🙂

[TG-Maverick]

Loved the video as always, my favorite astrophysicist. Also love the blue nail polish :)

[RichieRichJPN]

... "that's got to be fake!" Yeah, you basically capture about 99% of the YouTube channels that pop up when you search 'JWST.' Had me rollin 😅

[slickfast]

Very much appreciate the special video for this! And love the shout-out for Muse, I was thinking the same thing this whole time 😂

[eikie]

Excellent video (again) and paperback? Was waiting for that..

[FrancisFjordCupola]

"If it sounds too good to be true..." and "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" and all that. Then again, it would be great for the scientists if they did find a DM star. Would be awesome!

[Benlucky]

if true, that dark stars are responsible for supermassive black holes, I wonder if that would have anything to do with dark matter nowadays being mostly in halos around galaxies instead of clumped in the middle. like a sponge in a puddle about to freeze over