Astronomers Discover Longest Matter Jet from Early Universe

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In a groundbreaking study, astronomers have identified a colossal matter jet spanning over 200,000 light-years, dating back to a time when the universe was just 1.2 billion years old. Utilizing the LOFAR radio telescope array, the international research team detected the longest known jet from the early cosmos, according to findings published in "The Astrophysical Journal Letters."

The discovery centers on the galaxy J1601+3102, which emits light that has traveled approximately 12.6 billion years to reach Earth. Measurements indicate that this galaxy harbors a supermassive black hole with a mass 450 million times that of the sun. Lead researcher Anniek Gloudemans from the Gemini Observatory explained that studying quasars—bright cores of galaxies—helps scientists understand the formation of jets and their impact on galaxy evolution.

Interestingly, despite the discovery of this powerful jet, the black hole’s mass is considered relatively small compared to those associated with jets in the current universe. This suggests that substantial jets can emerge even from less massive black holes in the young universe, challenging previous assumptions about black hole seeding conditions.

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