James Webb telescope finds an ‘extreme’ glow coming from 90% of the universe’s earliest galaxies

12 billion-year-old galaxies were 90% surrounded by glowing gas, igniting intense star formation.

Key Takeaways

1. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) revealed that 90% of the universe’s earliest galaxies emitted a bright glow from dazzling gas clouds.
2. These luminous gas clouds ignited by nearby stars resulted in intense star formation bursts.
3. Early galaxies, forming just 500 million years after the Big Bang, are surprisingly bright for their size.
4. Interactions with neighboring galaxies likely caused the unusual brightness and rapid star formation.
5. This discovery sheds light on the origins of the universe’s chemistry and galaxy evolution.

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The Glow of Early Galaxies Unveiled by JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has uncovered a groundbreaking discovery about the universe’s earliest galaxies. Using advanced infrared imaging, astronomers identified that nearly 90% of galaxies formed 12 billion years ago were surrounded by bright gas clouds. This unexpected glow, caused by light from young stars igniting the gas, led to bursts of star formation and offered a clue to the mystery of why early galaxies appear so bright despite their young age.

These galaxies formed approximately 500 million years after the Big Bang, during a period when matter condensed to form the first stars and galaxies. However, their intense brightness puzzled scientists, as it contradicted existing cosmological models. The JWST’s Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey provided the key to solving this mystery. By analyzing infrared spectra from the galaxies, researchers detected spikes in “extreme emission features,” signifying that the gas was absorbing light from nearby stars and reemitting it.

Bright Gas and Early Galaxy Interactions

The study, led by Anshu Gupta from Curtin University, attributes the extraordinary brightness of these galaxies to interactions with their neighboring galaxies. These interactions likely triggered star-forming explosions, making the galaxies more massive and luminous. The intense radiation from young stars excited the surrounding gas, creating a glow that is rare in galaxies today—only about 1% of modern galaxies display similar traits.

The findings not only provide insights into early galaxy evolution but also help scientists understand the universe’s chemical origins. Most elements, except hydrogen and helium, were forged in the cores of distant stars. Studying the conditions of early galaxies helps unravel the processes that shaped the cosmos and, ultimately, the matter making up everything around us today.

This research has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal and offers a new perspective on the intricate interplay between stars and gas in the early universe. By examining modern galaxies with similar emission features, astronomers hope to deepen their understanding of the universe’s infancy and its chemical evolution.