Researchers have discovered evidence pointing to the existence of the universe’s original stars, known as Population III stars, as well as a hungry supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s core, using scans of the distant galaxy GN-z11 by the James Webb Space Telescope.
The JWST’s studies of GN-z11, which is noted for its vast distance from Earth and incredible luminosity, have yielded critical insights into the mechanisms driving galaxy formation in the early universe.
Roberto Maiolino and his colleagues at the University of Cambridge led the inquiry, which used the telescope’s powerful near-infrared detectors to probe into the mysteries of this ancient cosmic creature.
The discovery of Population III stars, however indirect, represents a huge step forward in our knowledge of cosmic history.
Because there were no antecedents, they would have lacked heavy elements, consisting only of pure hydrogen and helium produced during the Big Bang.
Researchers inferred the presence of these elusive stars after identifying a clump of ionized helium in GN-z11. According to Maiolino, “The fact that we don’t see anything else beyond helium suggests that this clump must be fairly pristine.”
“This is something that was expected by theory and simulations in the vicinity of particularly massive galaxies from these epochs — that there should be pockets of pristine gas surviving in the halo, and these may collapse and form Population III stars.”
Supermassive Black Hole
The team’s observations revealed the existence of a supermassive black hole, estimated to be two million times the mass of our sun. “We found extremely dense gas that is common in the vicinity of supermassive black holes accreting gas,” said Maiolino in the same statement. “These were the first clear signatures that GN-z11 is hosting a black hole that is gobbling matter.”
This ground-breaking article describing these observations has been accepted for publishing in a scientific journal. As humanity continues to explore the mysteries of the universe, each new revelation takes us closer to understanding its origins and evolution.