Astronomers spot 'superheated' star factory birthing stars 180 times faster than the milky way

Astronomers are taking a closer look at a rare and superheated corner of the early universe after spotting a distant galaxy producing stars at a pace unseen in our cosmic neighbourhood. The galaxy, known as Y1, existed just 800 million years after the Big Bang and is forming stars 180 times faster than the Milky Way today. The discovery offers scientists a chance to understand how young galaxies grew quickly during the universe’s earliest era. Their findings were published on 12 Nov in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

How did scientists uncover Y1’s extreme star-forming power?
Researchers asked how such a young galaxy produced stars so quickly. They said earlier observations showed dust glowing at extreme strength. Team leader Tom Bakx said Y1 seemed unusually bright. He said they suspected a different superheated star factory existed. ALMA helped them measure light across specific wavelengths precisely. Its Band 9 instrument captured radiation from dense dust properly. This allowed the team to confirm Y1’s high temperature. They found dust warmed to around minus 180 Celsius. They said this temperature was warmer than similar early galaxies.

Why is Y1 considered an intense ancient star factory?
Scientists asked why Y1’s dust shone more strongly than expected. Team member Yoichi Tamura said the dust appeared unusually hot. He added that Y1 formed stars at 180 solar masses yearly. They observed this rate as the galaxy appeared 13 billion years ago. The team said such starburst periods likely ended quickly. They also believe many similar star factories may exist. They said early galaxies may hide these short starburst phases. They noted these regions could be common but faint.

Could Y1 help explain dust mysteries in early galaxies?
Researchers questioned why early galaxies seem filled with too much dust. Previous studies said these galaxies lacked enough old stars for dust. Team member Laura Sommovigo said warm dust can mimic large dust mass. She said small amounts of hot dust appear extremely bright. This effect may explain dust excess often seen in early galaxies. They believe Y1’s high temperature supports this possible explanation. The team plans deeper ALMA studies to examine Y1 further. They hope to understand how these early star factories assembled matter. They also aim to uncover how the first stars originally formed.