Galaxies collide to form gigantic elliptical galaxies, sparking debate in the scientific community
- Astronomers from the University of Southampton studied the formation of galaxies, focusing on events from 12 billion years ago.
- Their findings point to collisions between disc galaxies leading to massive star formation.
- This research may redefine current understanding of how the universe's largest galaxies were created.
In a significant breakthrough in astronomical research, scientists from the University of Southampton have provided new insights into the formation of the universe’s largest galaxies. Their study, published in the journal Nature, focuses on understanding the emergence of giant elliptical galaxies around 12 billion years ago. This period was marked by heightened cosmic activity, facilitating the collision of disc galaxies. The team, collaborating with the Purple Mountain Observatory in China, utilized the extensive capabilities of the Alma radio telescope located in Chile's Atacama Desert to analyze over 100 star-forming galaxies in the distant universe. Dr. Annagrazia Puglisi led the research, highlighting that the intense cosmic collisions caused gas, which is essential for star formation, to collect at the centers of these galaxies. This phenomenon led to an explosive creation of stars, occurring at rates significantly faster than what is observed in the Milky Way. The last two decades of astronomical research have focused on this process, making this study a pivotal piece of the puzzle in our understanding of galaxy formation. The findings assert that these early massive galaxies were not only formed due to their collisions but also through the dynamics of star formation occurring at an unprecedented rate. Dr. Qing-Hua Tan from the Purple Mountain Observatory emphasized the study's role in addressing long-standing mysteries in astronomy. With techniques that scrutinized light emissions from distant galaxies, the evidence gathered sheds light on the direct formation of spheroid galaxies from intense star formation in their cores. Moving forward, the research team plans to integrate their results with data from cutting-edge astronomical tools like the James Webb and Euclid satellites, as well as information from the Chinese Space Station. This comprehensive approach will facilitate a deeper understanding of the stellar components of early galaxies and evolution of the universe since its inception. The results of this research may redefine how astronomers view early galaxy formation and the complexities of the universe's development.