Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made a groundbreaking discovery by observing the formation of galaxies that are over 13 billion years old. Using a new method, the researchers have gained insight into the formation of three of the universe’s earliest galaxies, which took place just over 13 billion years ago. This breakthrough brings them closer to a deeper understanding of our origin and development in the universe. Kasper Elm Heintz, assistant professor at the Cosmic Dawn Center at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, said: “This discovery gives us a better understanding of the universe and our own origins. We are now one step closer to understanding how everything around us came to be.” Kasper Elm Heintz explains that the measurements cover almost the entire observable universe. The James Webb Space Telescope was used to make the measurements. The telescope is capable of picking up signals from large amounts of gas, which gather and flow towards mini galaxies that are under construction. Kasper Elm Heintz says that until recently, it was an unattainable dream to make such measurements. “One hadn’t imagined that we could achieve such precise and sensitive measurements,” he added.
The researchers estimate that these galaxies were formed around 400-600 million years after the Big Bang. Several hundred million years after the Big Bang, the first stars began to take shape, and later they gathered into galaxies. Kasper Elm Heintz explains that the measurements reveal the building blocks of the first stars. “We can now understand what processes are taking place and how galaxies are formed,” he says. The research team plans to study more distant galaxies in the universe and has already begun collecting data on nearly 500 galaxies. The University of Copenhagen describes the discovery as sensational, as it contributes important knowledge about the universe. The study has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Science. The Danish part of the research is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation and the Carlsberg Foundation.