Oct. 26, 2007 -- A study of ancient galaxies led astronomers to a gold mine of black holes, a discovery that more than doubles the number of these phenomena found in the early universe.

"We had seen the tip of the iceberg. Now, we can see the iceberg itself," said Mark Dickinson, with the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Ariz.

Astronomers discovered that active, supermassive black holes were ubiquitous in the early universe, though they are difficult to observe. Black holes are objects so dense that not even light can escape the grasp of their massive gravitational fists.

This image, taken with the Spitzer Telescope's infrared vision, shows a fraction of newly-found black holes, which are located deep in the bellies of distant, massive galaxies (circled in blue).