Emily Chan
“You can make this uncomfortably fit in our current model of the universe, but only if we evoke some exotic, insanely rapid formation at the beginning of time. This is, without a doubt, the most peculiar and interesting set of objects I’ve seen in my career.”
To investigate the galaxies, the researchers looked at data from the telescope. They analyzed spectral measurements and the intensity of different wavelengths of light that the objects emitted.
This was how they were able to identify old stars and supermassive black holes. Then, they considered various scenarios for how much of the light came from stars or active black holes.
They found that the three galaxies in the early universe showed the existence of mature stars that were hundreds of millions of years old. The researchers also acknowledged some of the limitations of the study.
For one, it was difficult to accurately distinguish between light from stars and light from active black holes, which could lead to many possible interpretations of their ages. Secondly, the sample size was small, as only three galaxies were studied.
As space exploration continues with the use of advanced technology and tools, more complex and surprising discoveries can be expected.
The study was published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
