In a remarkable discovery, astronomers have found a massive water reservoir orbiting a quasar located over 12 billion light-years away. This extraordinary find offers a rare glimpse into the universe's early stages, with light that began its journey shortly after the cosmos was born.
The water supply is vast, containing an estimated 140 trillion times the volume of Earth's oceans. This enormous reservoir is located near a supermassive black hole, roughly 20 billion times more massive than our sun. Surrounding this black hole is the quasar APM 08279+5255, emitting energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns.
The Role of Water in Early Universe Evolution
NASA's Matt Bradford, part of the team studying this phenomenon, explained the significance. "The environment around this quasar is unique because it's producing a vast amount of water," he said. "This shows that water exists even in the universe's earliest stages."
Bradford’s team, along with another group of astronomers, observed APM 08279+5255 and its central black hole. As the black hole pulls in surrounding material, it heats up gas and dust, creating an environment where molecules like water have never been detected so far away.
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Quasars and Their Significance in Studying Cosmic History
Quasars, first discovered over 50 years ago, are not ordinary stars. They shine brightly from the centres of distant galaxies, far outshining all surrounding stars. At their core lies a supermassive black hole, which pulls in matter, heating it and releasing energy.
This energy radiates across all wavelengths, making quasars some of the most energetic and brightest phenomena in the universe. Their study helps scientists understand the early universe, cosmic matter distribution, and the formation of galaxies.
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Astronomers recently found water vapour surrounding this quasar, spanning hundreds of light-years. Though the gas is thin by Earth standards, it is unusually warm and dense for similar regions in the Milky Way.
The temperature of this gas is about minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite being 300 trillion times less dense than Earth's atmosphere, it is five times hotter and hundreds of times denser than gas found in typical galaxies.
Water vapour indicates that the quasar is emitting radiation, keeping the gas warm. Scientists also detected molecules like carbon monoxide, suggesting the presence of material that could eventually feed the black hole.
The black hole may increase its mass by about six times. However, it's uncertain what the outcome will be. Some gas could form new stars, while other portions may be expelled into space.
This discovery provides valuable insight into the conditions of the early universe. Water vapour found at such a distance highlights the availability of essential elements for life over vast timescales.
The presence of water also plays a significant role in star and galaxy evolution. As gas clouds cool, water helps them collapse, fostering the birth of stars. This discovery enriches our understanding of how galaxies evolved as the universe matured.
In conclusion, the discovery of this distant water reservoir brings new insights into the universe’s early conditions. It also highlights the presence of life’s essential building blocks long before our time.
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