After years of debate and follow-up studies, many astronomers now believe LRDs are a totally new class of galaxy. According to this idea, although these objects may look like supersize red stars, their shine is powered not by standard stellar thermonuclear fusion but rather by the relentless funneling of burning-hot plasma into the insatiable maw of a snowballing black hole. That fiery process heats a thick “cocoon” of gas surrounding and feeding the black hole, which then glows like a ruddy heat lamp.