Astronomers have identified an enormous water reservoir surrounding a quasar located over 12 billion light-years away, offering a glimpse into the universe’s distant past. This quasar, APM 08279+5255, is powered by a supermassive black hole approximately 20 billion times the mass of the Sun and emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns.
The discovery reveals an astonishing 140 trillion times the volume of Earth’s oceans in water vapour, making it the largest and farthest known water source in the universe.
The quasar’s environment is highly unique, with a mix of hydrogen-rich gases like water vapour and carbon monoxide forming a region spanning hundreds of light-years. Despite the gases being sparse compared to Earth’s atmosphere, they are remarkably warm and dense for such a cosmic setting. Intense radiation from the quasar is thought to energize this gas, fueling star formation or contributing to the black hole’s growth, potentially increasing its mass sixfold over time.
The presence of water vapour in this quasar emphasizes its crucial role in cooling gas clouds, which facilitates star formation. This discovery also suggests that life’s essential elements existed early in the universe’s history, paving the way for the evolution of stars and galaxies.
Astronomers utilized advanced tools like Z-Spec at Hawaii’s Caltech Submillimetre Observatory and the Plateau de Bure Interferometer in France to confirm the water-rich conditions. These instruments enabled a detailed study of the quasar’s composition and environment.
This groundbreaking find sheds light on the early stages of the universe, unveiling how galaxies, black holes, and cosmic structures evolved billions of years ago. The discovery also highlights the importance of water in shaping the universe’s dynamic processes.
This colossal water reservoir is a testament to the extraordinary and complex conditions that existed in the universe’s infancy, deepening our understanding of cosmic history.