Indian Scientists Discover Milky Way-like Galaxy From 12 Billion Years Ago | AI News Digest
In a remarkable revelation, Indian astronomers have uncovered a colossal galaxy named Alaknanda, which dates back 12 billion years to a period when the Universe was just 1.5 billion years old. Using the advanced capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists Rashi Jain and Yogesh Wadadekar detected this spiral galaxy, which bears a striking resemblance to the Milky Way, thereby challenging long-held beliefs regarding the formation of early galaxies. Prior theories suggested that galaxies from this epoch were predominantly irregular and disordered; however, Alaknanda’s distinct spiral arms imply a more sophisticated structure in the nascent Universe. The research, published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, reveals that this galaxy was producing stars at a rate far exceeding that of the contemporary Milky Way. This groundbreaking discovery not only deepens our comprehension of cosmic evolution but also prompts new inquiries into the environmental factors that enabled the emergence of such organized structures so early in the Universe's timeline.
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