Scientists have made the smallest galaxy ever seen, Andromeda XXXV, a major discovery that challenges our understanding of cosmic evolution. This tiny galaxy is about 1 millionth the size of the Milky Way and is located roughly 3 million light-years away from Earth.
The galaxy’s existence is surprising because dwarf galaxies like it should have been destroyed in the hotter and denser conditions of the early universe. Instead, Andromeda XXXV has survived and is producing stars at an unexpected rate.
Researchers used massive astronomical datasets and the Hubble Space Telescope to identify the tiny galaxy. The discovery sheds new light on how galaxies form and evolve over time. It also raises questions about what happened to these small galaxies in the past and whether they were “killed” by their parent galaxy or if they fell out of orbit.
The study’s lead author, Marcos Arias, notes that Andromeda XXXV is a “murder mystery” because it defies expectations. The discovery has sparked new questions about galaxy formation and evolution, leaving scientists eager to learn more.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/scientists-discover-smallest-galaxy-ever-seen-its-like-having-a-perfectly-functional-human-being-thats-the-size-of-a-grain-of-rice