Water, a molecule essential for life, also plays a crucial role in star and galaxy formation.
Astronomers have made an extraordinary discovery: a massive reservoir of water encircling a quasar over 12 billion light-years away. This discovery not only pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the early universe but also highlights water’s pivotal role in cosmic evolution.
At the heart of this finding is quasar APM 08279+5255, a cosmic powerhouse fueled by a supermassive black hole approximately 20 billion times the mass of our Sun. The quasar emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion Suns, creating a unique environment where molecules like water vapor thrive.
The water detected is astonishing in scale — about 140 trillion times the volume of all Earth’s oceans combined. Encased within a region hundreds of light-years across, this water vapor exists under conditions unlike any in our galaxy. While the gas is sparse by terrestrial standards, it is surprisingly dense and warm for such a distant part of the cosmos, with temperatures hovering at minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit and densities up to hundreds of times greater than typical galactic environments.
How Quasars Illuminate Cosmic History
Quasars, first observed over 50 years ago, are among the brightest objects in the universe. Powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies, these celestial phenomena outshine all the stars in their host galaxies combined. The intense radiation they emit, spanning various wavelengths, offers a glimpse into the universe’s past. Since the light we observe today started its journey billions of years ago, studying quasars is like looking back in time.
In the case of APM 08279+5255, astronomers found that its immense gravitational pull and energy output have shaped its surroundings in remarkable ways. As gas and dust spiral into the black hole, they heat up, releasing energy that bathes the surrounding molecules, including water vapor. This interplay reveals how early galaxies formed, how matter was distributed, and how black holes grew during the universe’s infancy.
The Bigger Picture: Water as a Cosmic Catalyst
Water, a molecule essential for life, also plays a crucial role in star and galaxy formation. It helps cool gas clouds, enabling them to collapse and form stars. The detection of water vapor in such a distant quasar underscores the molecule’s presence across the cosmos, even billions of years ago.
Interestingly, the quasar’s environment also harbors other molecules, such as carbon monoxide, indicating an abundance of raw materials. These resources could fuel the black hole’s growth, potentially increasing its mass sixfold. Alternatively, some of the gas may be expelled into space or contribute to new star formation, demonstrating the dynamic processes shaping galaxies.
This groundbreaking discovery was achieved using advanced observational tools. Matt Bradford’s team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory began collecting data in 2008 with Z-Spec, a submillimeter-wave spectrometer at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory in Hawaii. The findings were later confirmed using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy (CARMA) in California.
Simultaneously, another team led by Dariusz Lis of Caltech utilized the Plateau de Bure Interferometer in the French Alps, detecting initial signs of water vapor in 2010. Together, these observations revealed the vast scale and unique conditions of the quasar’s water reservoir.
This discovery challenges traditional notions of the early universe as cold and barren. Instead, it paints a vivid picture of a young cosmos teeming with activity, where water and other molecules helped shape galaxies and black holes. By studying these distant signals, astronomers gain valuable insights into the building blocks of life and the evolution of cosmic structures.
Water’s presence around a quasar 12 billion light-years away serves as a reminder of the universe’s complexity and interconnectedness.
