Astronomers Discover Massive Radio Jet in Early Universe

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Astronomers have detected a colossal radio jet, spanning over 200,000 light-years, in the distant universe, as detailed in a recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. This jet is twice the width of the Milky Way galaxy and provides a glimpse into cosmic structures formed when the universe was less than 10% of its current age of 13.8 billion years.

Lead author Anniek Gloudemans from the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab described the finding as groundbreaking. She noted that large radio jets, believed to have formed soon after the Big Bang, are challenging to locate due to their extreme distances. The newly discovered radio jet is associated with a quasar that existed when the universe was only 1.2 billion years old.

Interestingly, Gloudemans indicated that a less massive black hole might not be necessary for producing such powerful jets, suggesting significant variations in cosmic conditions during the early universe. The study provides critical insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies.

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