SPACE — The James Webb Space Telescope successfully detects the most distant molecules in the universe. This molecule is located 12 billion light years from Earth.
Reporting from Study Find, the molecules found are similar to smoke, soot, or fog on Earth. The molecule was observed in light that had traveled from the galaxy when the cosmos was less than 1.5 billion years old, a time when the universe was only 10 percent of its current age.
Scientists discovered the molecule using gravitational lensing techniques. This gravitational lensing technique is like zoom who can see in more detail very distant and small objects.
“By combining Webb’s extraordinary capabilities with natural ‘cosmic magnifying glasses,’ we can see much more detail than we otherwise would,” said lead researcher and Texas A&M University astronomer Assistant Professor Justin Spilker.
Data from the Webb telescope revealed the presence of large organic molecules similar to smoke and soot. On Earth, smoke and soot are the result of cancer-causing hydrocarbon emissions that contribute to atmospheric pollution on Earth.
Interestingly, this finding shows that the presence of smoke or soot molecules does not always indicate star formation in space.
“Thanks to the high-definition images from Webb, we found many regions with smoke but without star formation. We also found other regions with new star formation but without smoke,” added Prof. Spilker.
This discovery marks Webb’s first detection of complex molecules in the early universe. This finding opens up new opportunities for astronomers.
For the first time, scientists hope to understand whether it is true that ‘where there is smoke, there is fire’. Prof. Spilker assumes it is not impossible that one day scientists will be able to find galaxies so young that complex molecules like this have not had time to form in the vacuum of space.
“Until those galaxies are all fire and no smoke. The only way to know for sure is to look at more galaxies,” he said.
The James Webb Space Telescope, launched on Christmas Day 2021. The telescope has a primary mirror with a diameter of 6.5 meters which can be a tool for studying every phase in the history of the Universe.
Webb is the largest optical telescope in space. The telescope allows observations of very distant and faint objects.
2024-01-01 03:50:00
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