A new study using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has reclassified two early-universe objects previously thought to be faint quasars as extremely luminous galaxies driven by intense star formation. The research, published on the arXiv preprint server on August 18, 2026, examined galaxies observed when the universe was less than a billion years old. These findings suggest that some of the earliest galaxies may have been far more luminous and star-forming than previously believed. The study, led by Sarah E. I. Bosman of Leiden University, focused on two distant objects: J1450−0144 and J1429−0104. These were initially identified as faint quasars by the Subaru High-z Exploration of Low-Luminosity Quasars survey (SHELLQs). Quasars are extremely bright galactic cores powered by supermassive black holes, but the new findings challenge that classification. The researchers used advanced tools like JWST’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to analyze the objects in detail. The JWST observations revealed spectral features such as P Cygni wind profiles and strong helium (He II) emission, which are typically associated with massive stars rather than quasars. The absence of broad Lyman-alpha or magnesium (Mg II) emission further indicated that these objects are not quasars. Models using stars no more massive than 100 times the Sun failed to explain the observed helium signal, but models including stars exceeding 100 solar masses—called very massive stars (VMS)—matched the data. The galaxies are estimated to be forming stars at a rate of 300 to 540 solar masses per year, containing 100,000 to 1 million of these massive stars. ALMA observations showed that both galaxies emit strongly in a specific gas-emission line ([C II]) and contain cold dust. One galaxy, J1429−0104, has its ultraviolet (UV) light coming from a location distinct from its dust and gas, a separation of 17,600 light-years. This unusual offset remains unexplained and could be due to a galaxy merger, a hidden starburst, or processes that remove dust. The team emphasizes the need for future high-resolution imaging to determine the cause. The researchers conclude that both galaxies should be reclassified as Extremely UV Luminous Galaxies (EUVLGs), a classification that had not been spectroscopically confirmed until now. These findings suggest that some other objects currently labeled as faint quasars may actually be EUVLGs. This discovery highlights the evolving understanding of the early universe and the potential for reevaluating previous classifications of distant celestial objects.