Using the effect of gravitational lensing, American astronomers were able to observe a galaxy that existed 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang.

Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a large amount of organic molecules in a distant galaxy. This indicates that stars could once have formed very quickly in that region – when the universe was still relatively young.

the nature-in According to a published article, the galaxy in question is located 3.8 billion parsecs away, or about 12.3 billion light-years away. This means that roughly 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, researchers at Texas A&M University saw it.

According to Justin Spilker, an astronomer at the university, galaxy code SPT0418-47 lies behind another galaxy. The gravity of the latter bends SPT0418-47’s light, making it appear 30 times brighter than it actually is.

The nearest galaxy (light blue dot) showed aromatic hydrocarbons (red ring) in galaxy SPT0418-47, 12.3 billion light-years away.

©




Spilker and his team looked for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are chemical compounds found in smoke and soot. They also form near massive young stars that emit large amounts of ultraviolet light. Feeding on this energy, the particles grow so large that they resemble smoke and soot particles in the air in space.

According to Stacy Alberts, an astronomer at the University of Arizona, they help regulate the heating and cooling of gas in galaxies, essentially leading to the birth of stars.

Previously, researchers had tried to detect the presence of PAHs, but failed. These particles can be seen very well at infrared wavelengths, and the James Webb Space Telescope is powerful at observing them. Monitoring began in August 2022, and data processing is now complete.




The particles appear as bright spots in the galaxy’s rings, which amazes scientists. Because stars also formed in places where there were no such particles. The reason for this is still not well understood.

According to the researchers, the existence of PAHs is quite a mystery, and even in the case of the Milky Way, they don’t fully understand how they formed. However, finding it in such an ancient galaxy means they have to rethink how dust first formed and how the first stars and galaxies formed.

If you want to know similar things other times, like it The HVG Tech department’s Facebook page, which also reports on scientific discoveries.




HVG


In addition to diverse, independent and factual information, our readers who join the Pártoló membership can also enjoy a number of benefits for their financial support.
Depending on your membership level, we offer, among others:

  • We send you an exclusive weekly digest of the interesting things in the world;
  • You can gain insight into the work of HVG, you can meet our authors;
  • You can take part in pre-premier screenings of the latest films, in various events;
  • You can buy HVG books and publications at a discount;
  • You can read hvg360 digital news magazine.