Title: Astronomers Uncover the Secret Behind the Universe’s Transparency
Date: June 22, 2023
JAKARTA—Shortly after the Big Bang, the universe became a dark and mysterious place, with the gas between stars and galaxies being completely opaque. However, recent observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have shed light on the transformation of the universe from darkness to transparency.
An international team of astronomers, led by Simon Lilly of ETH Zurich in Switzerland, has discovered the cause of this change in darkness. The team looked back at galaxies from the end of the Reionization Era, a significant period in the universe’s history when gas was heated, cooled, and re-ionized.
Studying early galaxies that existed just 900 million years after the Big Bang, the team found that most of the gas in the universe was somewhere between opaque and transparent. However, around the galaxies, the gas became clear. “With Webb’s data, we see galaxies re-ionizing the gas around them,” said Daichi Kashino of Japan’s Nagoya University, the lead author of the team’s research paper.
To explain this phenomenon, imagine each young galaxy surrounded by a balloon. The energy emitted by the newly formed star re-ionizes the gas inside the balloon. As the galaxy grows, the reionized gas bubbles merge, creating larger pockets of transparency. Eventually, these bubbles combine to create a transparent universe.
The team was able to observe this process thanks to the illumination of quasars, super-bright supermassive black holes. By directing the James Webb Space Telescope towards a specific quasar, astronomers could observe its light passing through the gas of the universe. The light was absorbed by opaque gas in some areas and moved through transparent gas in others, providing valuable information about the composition and state of the gas.
Anna-Christina Eilers of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, lead author of one of the team’s newly released papers, explained, “By illuminating the gas along our line of sight, quasars provide us with extensive information about the composition and state of the gas.”
In their next phase of research, the team plans to examine galaxies in five other areas of the sky in greater depth, all of which have central quasars. These investigations will further enhance our understanding of the universe’s transformation from darkness to transparency.
The discovery of the process behind the universe’s transparency marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the cosmos. It opens up new avenues for exploring the mysteries of the early universe and provides valuable insights into the evolution of galaxies and the formation of celestial bodies.
Source: Republic (Link: https://tekno.republika.co.id/berita/rwmn37478/rahasia-galaksi-membuat-alam-semesta-menjadi-transparan)
How did the ultraviolet light emitted by early galaxies contribute to the universe’s transition from opacity to transparency?
Ing their surroundings, like neighborhood watch torching the darkness,” said Lilly.
The findings suggest that the ultraviolet light emitted by these early galaxies played a crucial role in transforming the universe’s opacity. As the UV light interacted with the surrounding gas, it stripped away the electrons, making the gas transparent.
“This is a significant discovery because it helps us understand how the universe went from being completely opaque to becoming transparent,” said Lilly. “It was the light from these early galaxies that allowed us to see through the darkness and eventually led to the formation of stars and galaxies as we know them today.”
The discovery also provides insight into the early stages of galaxy formation. The team found that as the universe transitioned from opacity to transparency, galaxies began to form and grow. “The process of re-ionization essentially gave birth to the galaxies we see today,” explained Lilly. “It was a transformative period that shaped the structure of the universe.”
The findings were made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope, which is due to launch later this year. The telescope’s advanced instruments and unprecedented sensitivity allowed astronomers to observe the early stages of the universe with incredible precision.
“This is just the beginning of what we can discover with the James Webb Space Telescope,” said Lilly. “We are excited to continue exploring the mysteries of the universe and uncovering its secrets.”
The results of this study are expected to have a significant impact on our understanding of the universe’s evolution and may open up new avenues of research in astrophysics. Further studies will aim to delve deeper into the mechanisms behind the transformation from darkness to transparency and explore the role of early galaxies in shaping the cosmos. As astronomers continue to unlock the secrets of the universe, we are one step closer to understanding our place in the vast and enigmatic cosmos.
This fascinating article delves into the enigmatic concept of a transparent universe and astonishes with revelations about how galaxies can uncover hidden secrets. An incredible exploration of the mysteries hiding in the vastness of space!
This fascinating article sheds light on the captivating concept of a transparent universe, revealing how galaxies hold the key to unlocking hidden secrets. A mind-blowing exploration of the cosmos!