Astronomers have made groundbreaking discoveries using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), revealing that the early universe was far more crowded with galaxies than previously thought. The new study confirms that some galaxies formed stars at an incredible rate, challenging astronomers’ expectations and marking a new era in cosmic exploration.
According to researchers, the young universe was 10-100 times richer in galaxies than scientists had imagined. Some of these galaxies were found to be larger and more structured than expected, while others appeared even more massive than initially thought. However, further analysis revealed that some of these “impossible” galaxies were actually closer than estimated.
The study identified three exceptional objects, now referred to as “red monsters,” which converted nearly 50% of available matter into stars – a rate 500 times higher than the Milky Way. The findings indicate that early galaxies could form stars with an efficiency never seen before.
To explain how these galaxies grew so large and quickly, several theories have been proposed. One possibility is that cosmic filaments provided a more efficient gas supply to these galaxies. Another theory suggests that supermassive black holes compressed surrounding matter, accelerating star formation. However, more observations and advanced simulations are needed to refine these models and fully understand this extraordinary phenomenon.
While the “red monsters” provide valuable insights into the early universe, much remains unknown. As lead author Mengyuan Xiao stated, “The red monsters are just the beginning of a new era in our exploration of the early universe.”
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/nasa-james-webb-spots-three-red-monsters-in-the-early-universe