Astronomers detect water in a galaxy 12.8 billion light-years from the Earth

Marking a groundbreaking discovery,  Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile has detected signs of water molecules in a distant galaxy. Named SPT0311-58, galaxy is located 12.8 billion light-years from Earth and is most massive galaxy in early universe. Although galaxy, which is a combination of two galaxies, was first spotted in 2017, experts say that detection of two water molecules today suggest that molecular Universe was going strong shortly after elements were forged in early stars. 

Talking about discovery, le author of study and astromer at  University of Illiis, Sreevani Jargula said in an official press release,

"Using high-resolution ALMA observations of molecular gas in pair of galaxies kwn collectively as SPT0311-58 we detected both water and carbon moxide molecules in larger of two galaxies. Oxygen and carbon, in particular, are first-generation elements, and in molecular forms of carbon moxide and water, y are critical to life as we kw it".

Studying biggest galaxy ever

Published in  Astrophysical Journal,  new research comprises most detailed study of molecular gas content of a galaxy in early universe to date along with  most distant detection of water in a regular star-forming galaxy. According to astromers, two galaxies merged into one when Universe was just 780 million years old which is roughly 5-percent of its current , and first stars and galaxies were being born. Besides, y believe that two galaxies may be merging, and that ir rapid star formation is t only using up ir gas, or star-forming fuel, but that it may eventually evolve pair into massive elliptical galaxies.

Jarugula says that this galaxy, which is most massive one ever, contains more gas and dust compared to or galaxies in early Universe, giving m plenty of potential opportunities to observe abundant molecules. He says that it would also help to better understand how se life-creating elements impacted development of early Universe. Interestingly, it is this huge amount of dust that me it easier for scientists to detect water. 

“ dust absorbs ultraviolet riation from stars in galaxy and re-emits it as far-infrared photons. This furr excites water molecules, giving rise to water emission that scientists are able to observe. In this case, it helped us to detect water emissions in this massive galaxy. This correlation could be used to develop water as a tracer of star formation, which could n be applied to galaxies on a cosmological scale", Jarugula explained. 

Why is discovery significant?

What makes this discovery significant is window that it opens into past of our universe. Scientists say that studying very first galaxies in universe will offer a better understanding of  birth, growth, and evolution of Universe, and everything in it, including our Solar System and our planet. "Studying gas and dust content of se early galaxies informs us of ir properties, such as how many stars are being formed, rate at which gas is converted into stars, how galaxies interact with each or and with interstellar medium, and more", said Jarugula. He furr ded that apart from answering where, and how far away, water can exist in Universe, but also has given rise to a big question that how has so much gas and dust assembled to form stars and galaxies so early in Universe?

Im: ALMA Observatory