Detects the existence of water in a galaxy 12.8 billion light years from Earth

The composition of this galaxy called SPT0311-58 was discovered by scientists from the University of Illinois via the ALMA Telescope in Chile. This galaxy was first discovered also at the observatory in 2017.

Sreevani Jarugula, an astronomer at the University of Illinois and is chairman of the study, CO ₂ were also detected in the giant galaxy . With the existence of oxygen and carbon, elements that scientist Jarugula considers to be "essential for life", the above shows that life at the molecular level was formed not too far back in time. after the Big Bang - the big bang that scientists believe led to the rapid expansion of the universe that we witness today.

CO ₂ is also detected in this giant galaxy.

"This is a galaxy with more dust and gas than other galaxies in the early universe. This will give us many potential opportunities to observe more molecules and understand more about the elements. how the composition of life influenced the development of the early universe , " researcher Jarugula said in a statement.

The water discovery also shows that the galaxy has stars that end their life shortly. Hydrogen gas was formed during the Big Bang, but the oxygen came from dying stars.

Most stars normally 'live' for billions of years, NASA said, but the findings suggest that the stars in SPT0311-58 have experienced a lifetime of less than 1 billion years . According to researcher Jarugula, these findings show how water can exist at such a distance from Earth, and raise questions about stars and galaxies that formed very early in the universe. .

Early-forming galaxies are producing stars at a rate thousands of times faster than the Milky Way. Studying the gas and dust of these galaxies gives us information about its properties, such as how many stars are forming, the rate at which gas turns into stars, galaxies. interact with each other.

The results are "very exciting" and could help us understand how the universe has evolved so far , said Joe Pesce, an astrophysicist and director at the National Science Foundation .