Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have unveiled striking similarities in the composition of dust between a galaxy located 5 billion light-years away and galaxies closer to our own. This discovery, published in the Astrophysical Journal, provides valuable insights into the early universe and the formation of stars and black holes.
The study focused on the galaxy SSTXFLS J172458.3+591545, which hosts a deeply obscured black hole. JWST detected molecules in solid form, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water ice on dust grains. This marks the first time these ices have been detected together outside our local universe. The presence of these ices suggests that the raw materials for planet formation in distant galaxies 5 billion years ago were similar to those in our Milky Way.
This finding allows astronomers to refine their calculations of star and black hole formation in the early universe. The research team, including astronomers from Tufts University, found that the dust composition in the distant galaxy is nearly identical to that found in our own galaxy. This suggests that if planets were forming in these distant galaxies, they would have had the same basic ingredients as those in our solar system. The JWST's ability to penetrate dust clouds and observe these distant galaxies is revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos.