Four new theories explain early monster holes

Scientists require a new theory that can produce so-called "seeds", from which huge black holes could have grown in the early universe.

THEORY 1 STAR CLUSTERS EXPLODE The universe’s first giant stars are born in clusters. When they explode into supernovas, they leave black holes close to one another. Some merge to produce enlarged seeds. INITIAL WEIGHT: 1,000 solar masses. GROWTH: The holes grow by capturing gas. If they always have free access to gas, they are only just big enough to form monster holes. THEORY 2 STARS OF UNKNOWN DARK MATTER COLLAPSE In the early universe, dark stars form from dark matter. The stars collapse, and their cores collapse into seeds. The problem? The existence of dark matter has not been proved. INITIAL WEIGHT: 100,000 solar masses. GROWTH: The large seeds can grow into monster holes by consuming gas, although their gas supply is periodically interrupted. THEORY 3 DENSLY PACKED REGIONS COLLAPSE In the first seconds after the Big Bang, regions of space of particularly high density develop. They collapse into black holes. The theory is possible, but not supported by any observations. INITIAL WEIGHT: 100,00 solar masses. GROWTH: The seeds have existed since the Big Bang, and so, they can easily consume so much gas that they grow into monster holes.