International Astronomer Group recorded a significant accumulation of water vapor located 12 billion light years away from Earth. The observation revealed a massive cloud of water rotating around the APM 08279+5255 quasar, whose light originated shortly after a major cosmic event.
The volume of the water reservoir detected is a staggering 140 trillion times larger than all the oceans on Earth combined. This gas cloud is situated near an ultra-massive black hole, which has a mass 20 billion times greater than that of the Sun. The radiation emitted by APM 08279+5255 is equivalent to the energy produced by a thousand trillion stars like our Sun.
Quasars, a unique category of celestial objects first identified over 50 years ago, are found in the energetic cores of distant galaxies. These objects shine so brightly that they outshine all neighboring stars.
Deep within these colossal cosmic entities lie ultra-massive black holes that continuously consume surrounding matter, releasing tremendous heat and energy across all wavelengths. Quasars are among the most potent sources of radiation in the universe and studying them aids astronomers in exploring the early stages of the universe’s history, the distribution of matter, and the processes of galaxy formation.
Bradford and his team conducted a detailed analysis of APM 08279+5255 and its black hole, which, through the absorption of gas and dust, creates an incredibly high-temperature environment. This allowed the researchers to detect water molecules at such an immense distance.
The water vapor extends hundreds of light years around the central quasar. The gas cloud’s temperature reaches -53°C, with a density 300 trillion times lower than Earth’s atmosphere. Nevertheless, compared to typical intergalactic gas, it is hundreds of times denser and five times hotter.
In addition to water, carbon monoxide molecules – potential “fuel” for a black hole – have been identified around the quasar.
Scientists speculate that the central black hole’s mass could increase sixfold through the absorption of surrounding matter. It is likely that part of the cosmic ocean will contribute to the formation of new stars, while the remaining material may be expelled back into space.
Water plays a crucial role in the evolution of stars and galaxies, as it cools gas clouds, enabling them to contract under the force of gravity and give rise to new celestial bodies. The findings suggest that essential chemical elements, essential for life, have existed