Have astronomers found a runaway monster black hole?

image via New Scientist

March 13, 2026, 10:45 AM

• •RBH-1 is a long, linear streamer of light.
• •The object's spectrum suggests it is about 7.7 billion light-years away and approximately 200,000 light-years long.
• •One theory proposes RBH-1 is a runaway supermassive black hole, while another suggests it is an edge-on, flat galaxy.
• •Recent James Webb Space Telescope data has not resolved the debate, with both sides interpreting the data differently.

Astronomers are debating the nature of RBH-1, a long streak of cosmic light. The two main theories are that it is either a runaway supermassive black hole or an unusual, flat galaxy. Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have produced conflicting interpretations, with each side of the debate claiming evidence to support their respective theories. Despite ongoing analysis and observation, the true nature of RBH-1 remains a mystery.

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