Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have identified the earliest powerful "galaxy-size" wind emanating from a supermassive black hole-powered quasar, J1007+2115. This quasar, located 700 million years after the Big Bang, is remarkable for its winds that stretch 7,500 light-years and travel at an astonishing speed of 6,000 times the speed of light, expelling material equivalent to 300 suns annually.
Discovery team leader Weizhe Liu from the University of Arizona highlighted that this finding represents the earliest known quasar-driven wind, which could have significant implications for star formation in its host galaxy. The winds may inhibit the birth of new stars by removing essential gas and dust, potentially leading to a 'dead' galaxy.
The JWST's capabilities allowed researchers to observe these extraordinary winds, which could reshape our understanding of galaxy evolution and the role of supermassive black holes in the early universe. The team plans to continue their investigations into quasar winds to better understand their properties in the early cosmos.