Newly found galaxies could rewrite our cosmic history
Researchers have discovered a group of galaxies that have, until now, been inaccessible to Earth-based telescopes. These "hidden" galaxies could change our understanding of how the universe was formed. What do we know about the darkest light observed in the universe?
The "hidden" galaxies may challenge current models of galaxy evolution. This remarkable discovery was made by a team of astronomers from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and Imperial College London, who used far-infrared imaging to study the universe.
The "hidden" galaxies are responsible for the darkest light in space
If the existence of these exceptional constellations is confirmed mathematically, it will significantly impact our knowledge of cosmic formation. The presence of such galaxies could account for the missing infrared radiation in the cosmic energy budget and enhance our understanding of energy emissions at longer wavelengths.
Gaining valuable information and a new perspective on the depths of space has been made possible thanks to observations from the Herschel telescope, which is part of the European Space Agency. Astronomers sifted through images from over 2,000 galaxies captured by the telescope to find evidence of hidden clusters. Dr. Chris Pearson from STFC RAL Space, the lead author of the research, emphasized that these studies have pushed the boundaries of science with Herschel, uncovering a new population of galaxies.
Scientists combined 141 images from the SPIRE instrument, which was part of the Herschel space telescope. This work enabled the creation of the deepest image of the sky in far-infrared and the identification and analysis of the most inaccessible galaxies.
Current models of galaxy formation may prove incorrect
The depth of the images caused galaxies to blend together, making it difficult to identify objects. According to Science Alert, Thomas Varnish, a doctoral student from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, used statistical analysis techniques to study the most blurred fragments of the image. As a result, he discovered potential evidence of previously unknown, faint galaxies. If this discovery is confirmed, it could impact all current models regarding the number and evolution of galaxies.
Conventional telescopes allow observation of a portion of the universe, but the images of some stars are absorbed by cosmic dust and emitted infrared radiation. Although more than a decade has passed since the space satellite mission ended, scientists continue to draw knowledge from the materials provided.
