Our universe is infinite, and in its depths there are such stars, galaxies and objects whose light takes billions of years to reach us. But in this infinite darkness, an ancient light has been seen, which was considered impossible for humans to see. This discovery has been made by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which has become the most powerful eye of science today.
JADES-GS-z13-1: The galaxy that should not have been seen
Under the James Webb Space Telescope Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), scientists have seen a galaxy that seems no less than a miracle—JADES-GS-z13-1. This galaxy existed at a time when the universe was only 330 million years old. It can be called the “infancy” of the universe. The ability of light to reach this extent at such an early stage challenges today’s understanding of science.
Lyman-alpha emission: The signal that unlocks the mystery
Webb was able to see this galaxy because it showed clear signs of Lyman-alpha emission. This emission occurs when an electron in a neutral hydrogen atom is exposed to a high-energy photon. These emissions are now commonly seen in the universe. But it is worth noting that this emission is common today, not 330 million years later.
The early universe: An opaque era
In the early days of the universe, it was mainly filled with neutral hydrogen, which absorbs light. Because of this, the universe was not transparent at that time. The spread of light was not possible until the “reionization epoch” came a billion years later. In this era, the light of the stars became so intense that it ionized the hydrogen atoms – that is, stripped them of their electrons. After this, the universe gradually started becoming transparent.
So then the question arises—when this process started a billion years later, how are we seeing light so early from a galaxy like GS-z13-1?
Scientists’ confusion and possibilities
According to researchers from NASA and ESA, this indicates that the GS-z13-1 galaxy is producing and leaking a large amount of ionizing photons. It is possible that extremely hot and massive stars are present there, or there is an active galactic nucleus (AGN) there, which is quickly ionizing the area around it. Due to this process, the Lyman-alpha emission could not be suppressed and reached our telescope.
Pop III stars: another mystery
Another possible explanation is that the light coming from GS-z13-1 may have originated from Population III (Pop III) stars. These were the first stars that came into existence in the universe. Scientists believe that these stars were much more massive and brighter than today’s stars. If it is proven that this emission comes from Pop III, it will be one of the greatest discoveries in cosmic history.
There are some contradictions, though. According to calculations, the mass present in this galaxy is not high enough to form Pop III stars. Also, other types of emissions that are expected from Pop III have also not been found in GS-z13-1.
Is a black hole behind it?
Another idea is that this galaxy may have a supermassive black hole that is the center of the AGN. Such black holes swallow so much matter that they emit a strong and bright gaseous flow. Scientists believe that this flow may be so powerful that it quickly ionized the area around it.
Conclusion: Light like an ancient torch
Even today scientists have not been able to fully understand this mystery. But one thing is certain—the existence of galaxies like GS-z13-1, and this unexpected light coming from them, gives us a glimpse into the earliest moments of the universe. It is like an “ancient torch” showing a way in the darkness—much like a tiny light guiding you in a tunnel.
Even though we don’t yet fully understand the nature of this light, scientists are grateful to have found it. This light is not only a mirror to the past but also an inspiration for scientific research to come.
FAQs
Q. What is JADES-GS-z13-1?
A. JADES-GS-z13-1 is a distant galaxy spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope that existed just 330 million years after the Big Bang.
Q. Why is the detection of this galaxy surprising?
A. Because light from that era should have been blocked by neutral hydrogen, making it impossible to detect certain emissions like Lyman-alpha.
Q. What are Lyman-alpha emissions?
A. These are specific light emissions produced when electrons in hydrogen atoms get excited. They help scientists study distant galaxies.
Q. What might explain the visibility of JADES-GS-z13-1?
A. It may have unusually powerful stars or an active supermassive black hole that reionized its surroundings earlier than expected.
Q. What does this discovery mean for science?
A. It challenges our understanding of the early universe and opens new questions about how the first stars and galaxies formed.
