The James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled a mysterious phenomenon in the early Universe: little red dots. These compact red objects have sparked intense debate among scientists, who are struggling to determine their nature. While some attribute the light from these dots to early star formation or supermassive black holes, a more exotic explanation is gaining traction: quasi-stars. These quasi-stars are hypothesized to be black holes surrounded by dense gas, potentially allowing them to grow rapidly. This theory is supported by a recent study that adapts a well-known code to predict the appearance of these objects. The results are promising, matching the brightness of the real little red dots in visible and infrared light, as well as the brightness of hydrogen gas. However, the model falls short in predicting ultraviolet brightness, which the authors attribute to the presence of newly formed stars in the protogalaxy. Despite this minor issue, the quasi-star model offers a compelling explanation for the little red dots. Nevertheless, the true nature of these enigmatic objects remains a puzzle, and further research is needed to unravel their mysteries.
