Astronomers have discovered 300 mysteriously luminous objects in the early universe, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The discovery could challenge current ideas about how galaxies formed in the first billion years after the Big Bang.
The team used deep-field images from JWST to identify the objects, which are extremely distant and show the universe as it was over 13 billion years ago. The objects appear brighter than predicted by current models of early galaxy formation, raising questions about their nature.
Researchers applied a method called the “dropout” technique to detect the objects’ redder wavelengths and vanished bluer ones. By analyzing brightness across multiple wavelengths, they inferred redshift, age, and mass. JWST’s powerful camera is ideal for studying the early universe due to its ability to detect light from distant sources.
If confirmed as genuine early galaxies, these discoveries would refine our understanding of how quickly cosmic structures formed and evolved. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal on June 27.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-uncovers-300-mysteriously-luminous-objects-are-they-galaxies-or-something-else