Astronomers have made a fascinating discovery exploring the deepest reaches of the universe. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, the team identified the oldest “dead” galaxy on record. Contributing significantly to the understanding of the universe, this discovery paves the way for a new era of astronomical exploration.
A quick look at the early universe
This unique galaxy, already 13.8 billion years old, is located at an incredibly far distance from Earth. Its existence dates back to a time when the universe was only about 700 million years old. Despite belonging to the beginning of time, star formation ceased prematurely in this galaxy – a feature that still challenges astronomers. The report detailing the discovery was published in the renowned journal Nature.
Searching for answers at the beginning of time
According to the researchers, the study of this ancient galaxy could bring important revelations about the genesis of the universe and the factors that influence star formation. “The first million years of the universe were an extremely active period, with many gas clouds collapsing to form new stars,” explained study leader Tobias Looser, a PhD student in extragalactic astrophysics at the Kavli Institute of Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. .
Scientists were surprised to discover a galaxy that matured quickly and died young shortly after the Big Bang. “Normally, it’s only later in the Universe that we start to see galaxies stop forming stars,” noted Francesco D’Eugenio, co-author of the research and postdoctoral astrophysicist at the Kavli Institute of Cosmology.
The mysteries of the end of star formation
The end of star formation occurs when a galaxy is deprived of the gas necessary to generate new stars. However, the reason why it occurred so suddenly in this particular galaxy has not yet been determined. There is general agreement that massive black holes or violent interactions between stars can expel gas in galaxies, quickly halting star creation. However, researchers are still unsure whether any of these scenarios can explain what happened to the galaxy JADES-GS-z7-01-QU, the newly discovered galaxy by Webb’s instruments.
Towards a better understanding of the universe
The research team is eager to further study this peculiar galaxy and learn about the conditions that trigger the cessation of star formation. “It may be that systems ‘die’ and then come back to life. We will need more observations to help us figure this out,” D’Eugenio concluded.
The discovery of this galaxy is a true game changer for astrophysics and gives astronomers an unprecedented view of the ancient universe. Thanks to the James Webb Telescope, many more exciting discoveries are yet to come.
2024-03-12 04:32:05
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