Astronomers, including a team of Iranian scientists, have used the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa to observe galaxies that existed 10 to 11 billion years ago. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, indicate that these early galaxies were already undergoing vigorous star formation, a pace that challenges some existing cosmological models.
The MeerKAT telescope, a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array, has demonstrated exceptional sensitivity in detecting faint radio light. This capability has led to significant discoveries, such as the identification of giant radio galaxies, which were previously thought to be rarer. The detection of two such galaxies in a small area of the sky suggests they may be more common than anticipated, providing crucial insights into galactic evolution. Radio astronomy, pioneered by Karl Jansky in the 1930s, allows scientists to observe phenomena obscured by interstellar dust, offering a clearer view of the distant universe. Projects like MIGHTEE utilize MeerKAT to analyze radio spectra, magnetic fields, and star formation rates in these ancient galaxies, complementing observations from telescopes like Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope.