Astronomers have uncovered an astonishing discovery: a massive cloud of water vapor orbiting a black hole that lies over 12 billion light years away. This cosmic structure around quasar APM 08279+5255 is vibrant and contains as much water as 140 trillion Earth oceans.
These results, obtained when the universe was a mere toddler, show that water is present throughout the cosmos and give astronomers fresh perspectives on galaxy formation and the universe’s development.
A cosmic ocean: the most significant water reservoir ever discovered
Scientists have discovered the universe’s most significant and oldest pool of water around a black hole nine billion times larger than our Sun (the features of the black hole have been mentioned here). This reservoir is gaseous and is several hundred light years away from quasar APM 08279+5255. It is 300 trillion times less dense than the Earth’s atmosphere but is very warm and thick compared to other astronomical objects, with a temperature of around -63 F.
The quasar in question is fed by a black hole with a mass twenty billion times that of the Sun. The gas and dust continuously approaching the black hole create stupendous energy, equivalent to a thousand trillion Suns. The energy emitted by the quasar ensures that the water vapor is surrounded by radiation, which warms it to this state.
Researchers believe this reservoir could feed the black hole and increase its size six times more than its current volume. However, the final destiny of this gas is still unknown—it will be able to form new stars or be ejected into the intergalactic medium.
Why quasars are key to understanding the early universe
Among the most luminous and least understood objects in the known universe, quasars are believed to be released by supermassive black holes. These objects were first noticed more than half a century back. They are formed in distant galaxies and are much brighter than all the stars.
Quasar APM 08279+5255 is very bright and also known to be associated with a lot of water. Studying such quasars enabled scientists to make observations of the universe when the Earth, solar system, and even the galaxy were forming. The light from this quasar took a long time to reach us. It started on a journey when the universe was a mere 10% of what it is today, making this quasar study very valuable.
They also help in studying matter distribution and the formation of galaxies. Studying the energy and materials surrounding quasars allows astronomers to understand how galaxies developed and how black holes affect other structures.
Water in space: a clue to life’s building blocks
Aquatic life is almost a norm in the universe as they have discovered water in a quasar, a cosmos body much farther than the galaxy. This means that the fundamental blocks of life have existed since the earliest time in the universe.
Water also includes more than biosphere significance. It is actively engaged in shaping the cosmos’ evolution. When gas clouds are cool, water brings about their contraction to form stars. Observing water billions of years ago allows astronomers to track the process of galaxy evolution and how stars came to fill the universe.
This is evidenced by the detected water vapor, which indicates a rich and evolving situation. Together with other molecules such as carbon monoxide, these suggest a rich material supply for growing black holes or forming stars. This interaction of components supplies essential information about the procedures that formed the universe and the contributing factors to cosmic alignment.
The observations of a giant water cloud around quasar APM 08279+5255 provide a deep understanding of the formation process of the universe. It focuses on water as a molecule and a component of stars, galaxies, and possibly life-bearing planets.
This archive of primeval cosmic gems, away from Earth for 12.7 billion light-years, elucidates the complex and nonlinear mechanisms at work in our cosmos and provides a more expansive narrative of the drama of the universe.