Hidden galaxies rewrite cosmic formation theories
Researchers have discovered a group of galaxies that have so far been inaccessible to Earth-based telescopes. These "hidden" galaxies could change our understanding of universe formation. 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. They created an image of the universe in the far-infrared spectrum.
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 presence of such galaxies would explain the missing infrared radiation in the cosmic energy budget and enhance our understanding of energy emission at longer wavelengths.
Gaining valuable information and a new perspective on cosmic depths was made possible through observations by the Herschel telescope, operated by the European Space Agency. Researchers 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 pushed scientific boundaries 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 them to create the deepest image of the sky in the far-infrared and to identify and analyze 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 individual 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 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 a portion of the universe, as the image of some stars is absorbed by cosmic dust and emitted infrared radiation. Although more than a decade has passed since the space satellite mission ended, scientists are still gaining insights from the provided materials.
