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Astronomers have identified an enormous cloud of water vapor surrounding a quasar, marking one of the largest known reservoirs of water in the universe. Located more than 12 billion light-years away, this colossal mass of water is estimated to be at least 140 trillion times the volume of all the water found in Earth’s oceans. The discovery provides insight into how water existed in the early universe, as the quasar’s extreme distance means that its light has traveled for billions of years, offering a glimpse into a much earlier cosmic era.
The water cloud encircles a quasar designated APM 08279+5255, a highly energetic celestial object powered by a supermassive black hole. As matter spirals toward the black hole, it releases immense amounts of energy, heating surrounding gas and dust. This process generates radiation strong enough to heat the surrounding water vapor to hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit. The presence of such a vast amount of water suggests that even in the distant universe, water was abundant in massive, energetic systems.
The water vapor is distributed across hundreds of light-years, forming part of the quasar’s gaseous surroundings. Unlike water found in the form of ice on planets and moons, this vast cloud exists in a gaseous state, permeating the surrounding space and mingling with other molecular compounds. The detection of this water confirms that even in some of the universe’s most extreme environments, water can persist in significant quantities.
This finding also contributes to the understanding of how galaxies and other large-scale structures evolve. Scientists believe that the water in the quasar’s environment interacts with other cosmic materials, influencing star formation and the growth of black holes. Studying these distant reservoirs provides valuable data on how chemical elements, including those essential for life, have been distributed across the universe since its early stages.
Astronomers detected the enormous water cloud by utilizing highly sensitive radio telescopes capable of capturing faint signals from billions of light-years away. The research team relied on observations from the Z-Spec instrument at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory in Hawaii and data from the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) in California. These instruments are designed to detect specific wavelengths associated with molecular emissions, including those from water vapor.
By analyzing the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the quasar, scientists identified clear signatures of water molecules within the surrounding gas. Water in the form of vapor interacts with radiation, absorbing and re-emitting energy at characteristic frequencies. This allows researchers to pinpoint its presence through spectroscopic analysis, which breaks down light into its component wavelengths. The detection process involved carefully distinguishing these water-specific signals from the broader background noise of the universe.
Because the quasar is located over 12 billion light-years away, its light has undergone redshift—a phenomenon where the wavelength of light stretches due to the expansion of the universe. This shift alters the observed properties of water’s spectral lines, requiring astronomers to calibrate their models accordingly. By compensating for this effect, researchers were able to confirm both the presence and the massive scale of the water reservoir.
In addition to water, the spectroscopic analysis also identified carbon monoxide, another key component of interstellar gas clouds. The presence of these molecules provides further evidence of the intense activity occurring within the quasar’s environment. The collected data helps refine models of how water and other molecular compounds behave in extreme conditions, shedding light on processes that shape the evolution of galaxies.
Advanced astronomical techniques continue to enhance scientists’ ability to detect water in distant parts of the cosmos. Future observations involving next-generation telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, are expected to provide even greater sensitivity for identifying water in early cosmic structures. By studying these distant reservoirs, astronomers can build a more detailed understanding of how water was distributed across the universe billions of years ago and how it contributed to the formation of celestial objects. Siri
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Last update on 2025-12-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
