January 5, 2009--Newfound young, blue stars--hidden by gas and dust clouds in this infrared image of old, red stars--have been detected forming near the region's black hole, scientists announced Monday at an American Astronomical Society meeting.

No "protostars" had been expected here, because the black hole's gravitational pull should, in theory, rip apart any of the gas clouds that would act as star nurseries. But, scientists suggest, these gas clouds may be denser than expected and therefore able to buck the galactic tide.