Scientists have found the oldest quasars ever seen, revealing giant black holes blazing across the universe when it was only 670 million years old. Astronomers have uncovered 31 of the oldest known quasars, including the two earliest ever detected, shining from a time when the universe was only about 670 million years old. Powered by supermassive black holes billions of times the Sun’s mass, these incredibly bright objects challenge scientists’ understanding of how such enormous black holes formed so quickly after the Big Bang.

Quasars rank among the brightest and most powerful objects in the universe. They are fueled by supermassive black holes that consume surrounding material at the centers of galaxies, producing so much energy that they can be seen across billions of light years.

Now, an international team of researchers has identified 31 of the oldest quasars ever discovered, including the two earliest known examples. These extraordinary objects were already shining with the light of roughly a trillion suns when the universe was only about 670 million years old. The discovery, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, offers an unprecedented glimpse into one of the earliest chapters of cosmic history.