The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed a new population of ancient galaxies called 'little red dots.' These galaxies were initially thought to contain an unexpectedly high number of stars for their age. However, a new study suggests that their brightness is largely due to active galactic nuclei (AGNs) powered by supermassive black holes. This discovery helps to explain some of the mysteries surrounding the early universe's luminosity.
Astronomers may have solved a major puzzle in cosmology by discovering a large sample of ancient galaxies known as 'little red dots.' These galaxies, observed by the James Webb Space Telescope ( JWST ), existed earlier than 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang and initially seemed to contain more stars than expected. However, a new study suggests that much of their light comes from active galactic nuclei (AGNs), which are powered by supermassive black holes .
The team behind this research found that the majority of these ancient galaxies in their sample showed evidence of gas swirling around at incredible speeds, indicating the presence of flattened clouds of gas and dust called disks. These disks are thought to be fueling the AGNs at the heart of these galaxies.Little red dot galaxies owe their name to a phenomenon called'redshift.' As light from a galaxy travels toward Earth, the expanding universe stretches its wavelength, shifting it towards the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum. The older and farther away the galaxy, the more pronounced this redshift effect. This makes these ancient galaxies appear reddish.The JWST's ability to detect near-infrared and infrared wavelengths allows it to peer deep into the universe and observe these faint, distant objects. The discovery of these little red dots has been a significant breakthrough, as they provide valuable insights into the early universe and the evolution of galaxies.The researchers believe that these AGNs played a crucial role in the early universe, shaping the formation and evolution of galaxies. As supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies accrete matter, they release immense amounts of energy, which can influence the surrounding gas and dust.While this discovery sheds light on the puzzle of the universe's early luminosity, it also raises new questions. For instance, there are no similar galaxies in the local universe, suggesting that these little red dot galaxies might have evolved differently over time
SPACE EXPLORATION COSMOLOGY GALAXIES BLACK HOLES JWST REDSHIFT ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
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