ScienceAugust 15, 2026

quasistars

KWAY-zi-starz

Definition

A hypothetical type of extremely massive object from the early Universe, consisting of a black hole at the center surrounded by a vast, dense envelope of gas powered by gravity rather than nuclear fusion.

Etymology

The word is a portmanteau of 'quasi,' from the Latin meaning 'as if' or 'almost,' and 'star.' It was coined to describe objects that appear stellar in some respects but function fundamentally differently.

In the news

The term identifies the original theoretical model for 'black hole stars,' which astronomers are now using to explain the mysterious, compact 'little red dots' observed by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Astronomers Discover New Type of Cosmic Object - a “Black Hole Star”

Read the full article ↗

BGNES

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