Hidden galaxies uncovered: A cosmic revelation challenges science
Researchers have discovered a group of galaxies that have so far been inaccessible to Earth-based telescopes. These "hidden" galaxies could transform our understanding of how the universe forms. 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 Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and Imperial College London, who created an image of the universe in far-infrared light.
The "hidden" galaxies are responsible for the darkest light in space
If the existence of these exceptional constellations is mathematically confirmed, this discovery will significantly impact our knowledge of cosmic formation. The existence of such galaxies would explain the missing infrared radiation in the cosmic energy budget and would enhance our understanding of energy emission at longer wavelengths.
Gaining valuable information and a new perspective on cosmic depths was made possible thanks to observations from the Herschel telescope, which is part of the European Space Agency. They sifted through images from over 2,000 galaxies captured by the telescope to find evidence of these hidden clusters. Dr. Chris Pearson from STFC RAL Space, who is the lead author of the research, emphasised that these studies pushed the boundaries of science with Herschel, uncovering a new population of galaxies.
Scientists combined 141 images from the SPIRE instrument, which was on 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 image caused galaxies to blend together, making it difficult to identify distinct objects. According to the Science Alert portal, 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 the existence 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 only a portion of the universe, as the images of some stars are absorbed by cosmic dust and emitted as infrared radiation. Although more than a decade has passed since the space satellite mission ended, scientists still extract valuable insights from the materials it provided.
