Aug 21, 2026 · 12 min
Webb’s red dots may reveal how supermassive black holes grow
Why scientists are stoked about mysterious black hole stars
The episode connects a puzzling cosmic signal with practical findings about dementia risk and an animal’s remarkable seasonal body changes.
- 1James Webb’s mysterious red dots could be rapidly feeding black holes wrapped in dense clouds of gas and dust.
- 2Leisure-time physical activity shows a stronger association with lower dementia risk than exercise tied to work or commuting.
- 3Long-clawed shrews shrink multiple body structures for winter and regrow them in spring, with their snouts following a reverse pattern.
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The episode reveals that shrews can shrink their brains, skulls, organs, and bones for winter, then regrow them in spring.
The brief
Nate Rott and Gina Hinojosa introduce a science roundup with Ailsa Chang, beginning with a quiz on black holes before turning to a deeper cosmic mystery.
The James Webb Space Telescope has found mysterious red dots that may be black hole stars: rapidly feeding black holes hidden inside dense clouds of gas and dust.
That possibility matters because these objects could represent an early phase in the formation of supermassive black holes, offering clues about how they grow.
The episode then contrasts leisure-time activity with exercise through work or commuting, finding a stronger association between chosen physical activity and lower dementia risk.
Its most surprising biological turn comes from shrews, which shrink brains, skulls, organs, and bones for winter, then regrow them as spring returns.
Gina Hinojosa
Milky WayBooks & mentions
Consider This
The episode points to Ailsa Chang’s podcast as related listening.
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.