This image displays the exact position of the most remote galaxy known as JADES-GS-z14-0, visible as a minuscule dot in the Fornax constellation. – Public Outreach Office, Space Telescope Science Institute
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A surprising find by astronomers revealed the presence of oxygen and heavy elements in the most distant galaxy known. Situated 13.4 billion light-years away, this galaxy originated in the early stages of the universe. Scientists speculate that the universe was formed by the big bang 13.8 billion years ago.
The remarkably luminous and sizeable distant galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0, was first detected in January 2024 utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope, which observes the universe in infrared light invisible to the naked eye. This space observatory allows a glimpse into the era known as Cosmic Dawn, when the first galaxies emerged shortly after the big bang.
The light from JADES-GS-z14-0 took 13.4 billion years to reach our part of the cosmos, enabling astronomers to study it as it was around 300 million years after the universe’s birth. Surprisingly, the presence of oxygen and heavy metals in this galaxy suggests a faster galaxy formation process during the universe’s early days than previously assumed.
Published in The Astrophysical Journal and Astronomy & Astrophysics, the ALMA observations following those of Webb point to the rapid formation and maturation of this galaxy, challenging existing theories on early galaxy development. The unexpected abundance of heavy elements in JADES-GS-z14-0 prompts astronomers to reconsider the nature of early galaxies and anticipate further discoveries using Webb and ALMA.
Despite expectations of smaller and dimmer early galaxies, JADES-GS-z14-0 stands out due to its size and brightness. This unique galaxy offers insight into a time when stars formed rapidly in extreme conditions, differing from the familiar Hubble and JWST images of mature galaxies.
An artist’s concept showcases the universe’s appearance when it was less than 1 billion years old, with intense star formation consuming primordial hydrogen and generating numerous stars. – NASA/ESA/A. Schaller for STScI
Clouds collapse and rotate, filling with young stars primarily composed of light elements like helium and hydrogen. As stars age, they generate heavier elements like oxygen and metals, which disperse throughout the galaxy when stars explode at the end of their cycle. This process leads to the formation of more stars and planets. However, the galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0 defies this typical pattern, containing ten times more heavy elements than anticipated, indicating a more advanced stage of evolution with multiple generations of massive stars already born and perished. Dr. Stefano Carniani, from Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, and lead author of the study, highlighted that this unexpected maturity suggests rapid mass assembly in the early universe.
Utilizing ALMA, researchers confirmed the galaxy’s distance, originally determined by Webb, and refined their measurements. The combination of both telescopes allows for the study of initial galaxy formation and evolution. Gergö Popping, an astronomer at the European ALMA Regional Centre, emphasized the significant role ALMA plays in unveiling the conditions of early galaxy formation, proposing a quicker formation rate than previously thought after the Big Bang. Understanding these early galaxies can illuminate mysteries surrounding Cosmic Dawn, such as the earliest celestial objects and events post-Big Bang.
The study’s authors speculate that early galaxies may have formed more and larger stars than anticipated, impacting the overall galaxy brightness. Further observations are required to comprehend these findings fully. The team aims to ascertain whether JADES-GS-z14-0 is unique or if similar galaxies existed in the early universe, as a single object is insufficient to establish a new galaxy formation model.
