James Webb Telescope Discovers Distant Organic Molecules in Galaxy SPT0418-47

CNN Indonesia

Friday, 09 Jun 2023 15:48 WIB

Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —

For the first time, par astronomer managed to detect the most distant complex organic molecules in the universe using a telescope James Webb.

Launch CNNthe complex molecule was found in a galaxy called SPT0418-47, located 12 billion light years from Earth.

This discovery sheds light on the chemical interactions that occurred in the early galactic sequences in the universe and their relation to star formation.

On Earth, these molecules, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can be found in smoke, soot, smog, engine exhaust and forest fires.

The basis of organic molecules is carbon, which is considered one of the building blocks of life because it is a key element in amino acids, which make up proteins.

Studies detailing these findings have been published in the journal Nature. Experts detected signatures of these organic molecules through detailed analysis of James Webb Telescope data and found these molecules to be common in outer space.

On Earth, these molecules are part of the carcinogenic and pollution-causing hydrocarbon emissions.

Previously, astronomers thought polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were a sign of star formation because they had observed large molecules near bright young stars.

But Webb’s data suggests the presence of these molecules may not be an indicator of star birth in the early universe.

“Thanks to Webb’s high-resolution images, we found many areas with smoke but no star formation, and others with new stars forming but no smoke,” Spilker said.

The galaxy itself was first detected in 2013 by the National Science Foundation’s South Pole Telescope. Furthermore, observations were continued using the Hubble Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile.

But the James Webb Telescope with its infrared capabilities is able to capture new details from this galaxy. In addition, astronomers are also helped by a space phenomenon called gravitational lensing.

“This magnification occurs when two galaxies align almost perfectly from Earth’s perspective, and light from the background galaxy is bent and magnified by the foreground galaxy into a ring-like shape, known as an Einstein ring,” said study co-author Joaquin Vieira, professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“By combining Webb’s extraordinary abilities with that natural ‘cosmic magnifying glass’, we are able to see much more detail than we are capable of,” said study lead author Justin Spilker, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Texas A&M University.

Spilker adds that it’s the actual level of magnification that got him interested in observing the galaxy with the James Webb Telescope.

“Because the telescope really allows us to see the rich detail of the galaxy arrays in the early universe that we could have,” Spilker said.

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