Dark stars may help solve a long-standing mystery concerning how supermassive black holes — like the one believed to reside at the center of the Milky Way, shown here — formed in the early universe. Current theories indicate that black holes cannot accumulate material fast enough to reach supermassive status within a billion years of the Big Bang, but some astronomers believe massive dark stars may have helped kick-start the formation of these giant black holes. (Photo by Jon Lomberg)

Find out more about the theory by reading the cover story in Astronomy Magazine.

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Professor Katherine Freese

Also learn more about Professor Katherine Freese and her theory to search for dark matter in ancient minerals highlighted in Quanta.