Astronomers Discover New Galaxy Born 12 Billion Light Years Ago

The star formation triggered by the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy in its current approximation to the Milky Way is seen in an illustration. Reuters
The star formation triggered by the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy in its current approximation to the Milky Way is seen in an illustration. Reuters
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Astronomers Discover New Galaxy Born 12 Billion Light Years Ago

The star formation triggered by the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy in its current approximation to the Milky Way is seen in an illustration. Reuters
The star formation triggered by the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy in its current approximation to the Milky Way is seen in an illustration. Reuters

Astronomers have discovered a very young galaxy that looks surprisingly like our Milky Way, appearing as a ring of light at a distance of 12 billion light years in the dark universe. The galaxy, named SPT0418-47, is so far away its light has taken more than 12 billion years to reach us.

Astronomers see it as it was when the Universe was just 1.4 billion years old, 10 percent of its current age, according to data by European Southern Observatory (ESO), a partner in this discovery. At the time, these baby galaxies were just beginning to develop, AFP reported.

The galaxy, which was discovered using the ALMA Telescope in northern Chile, looks surprisingly like our Milky Way and has a similar rotating disc and large group of stars packed tightly around the galactic center. This discovery surprised astronomers who never thought such a galaxy could be formed 12 billion light years ago. "This is the first time a bulge has been seen this early in the history of the Universe, making SPT0418-47 the most distant Milky Way look-alike," ESO said.

This unexpected discovery suggests no disturbances or instabilities in the young galaxy which seems very calm. This made astronomers believe that "this Universe may not be as chaotic as once believed and raises many questions on how a young galaxy could have formed so soon after the Big Bang."

Co-author Simona Vegetti, from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, said: "What we found was quite puzzling; despite forming stars at a high rate, and therefore being the site of highly energetic processes, SPT0418-47 is the most well-ordered galaxy disc ever observed in the early Universe."

The findings were published in the journal Nature.



Saudi Students Compete in 57th International Chemistry Olympiad in Dubai

Saudi Flag / File/Reuters
Saudi Flag / File/Reuters
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Saudi Students Compete in 57th International Chemistry Olympiad in Dubai

Saudi Flag / File/Reuters
Saudi Flag / File/Reuters

Saudi students are participating in the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), the world’s largest high school chemistry competition, currently taking place in Dubai through July 14, bringing together over 300 students from around the world.

The scientific team has finalized the review and translation of the practical exam for the Saudi students, who are preparing to take their first test on Tuesday, SPA reported.

This year, the Kingdom is represented by a team of four male and female students who have undergone thousands of hours of intensive training under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Saudi Arabia has earned a total of 45 awards in its past participations in IChO, which has been held annually in a different country since its launch in 1968. These include 15 silver medals, 28 bronze medals, and two certificates of appreciation.