Tim Rawle

Abstract The first observations of JWST have revolutionized our understanding of the Universe by identifying for the first time galaxies at \(z\sim 13\)1–3. In addition, the discovery of many luminous galaxies at Cosmic Dawn (\(z > 10\)) has suggested that galaxies developed rapidly, in apparent tension with many standard models4–8. However, most of these galaxies lack spectroscopic confirmation, so their distances and properties are uncertain.

Abstract Multiple theories have been proposed to describe the formation of black hole seeds in the early Universe and to explain the emergence of very massive black holes observed in the first billion years after Big Bang1–3. Models consider different seeding and accretion scenarios4–7, which require the detection and characterisation of black holes in the first few hundred million years after Big Bang to be validated.

Author notes These authors contributed equally: Irene Shivaei, Renske Smit Authors and Affiliations Kavli Institute for Cosmology, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK Joris Witstok, Roberto Maiolino, Mirko Curti, Francesco D’Eugenio, Tobias J. Looser, William M. Baker, Lester Sandles, Jan Scholtz & Sandro Tacchella Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, UK Joris Witstok, Roberto Maiolino, Mirko Curti, Francesco D’Eugenio, Tobias J.