The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to amaze the world with its stunning discoveries, shedding light on the darkest mysteries of the universe. Since its launch, the telescope has been a fundamental tool in expanding our knowledge, not only about distant galaxies, but also about exoplanets that could hold crucial clues in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Recently, the James Webb telescope has allowed the observation of two phenomena that have left the scientific community speechless. On the one hand, it has revealed the details of a galaxy so full of gas that its own stars are invisible, and on the other, it has confirmed the existence of an exoplanet whose atmosphere is composed mainly of water vapour.
A galaxy hidden by its own gas
One of the most striking discoveries made by the telescope is that of the galaxy GS-NDG-9422, also known simply as 9422. This galaxy has turned out to be one of the most peculiar ever observed. Through Webb's advanced tools, such as the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), astronomers were able to analyze its unique composition.
The most astonishing thing about 9422 is that the gas surrounding it is so bright and dense that it is almost impossible to see the stars inside. This phenomenon has dazzled scientists, who describe it as a “missing link” in the evolution of galaxies. According to studies led by Alex Cameron of Oxford University, the galaxy is immersed in a very active phase of star formation. The bright gas prevents telescopes from capturing the brightness of the stars, something never seen so clearly before.
Simulations carried out by the team of researchers indicate that the stars in this galaxy could reach temperatures higher than 80.000º Celsius, much higher than what we usually see in our nearby universe, where the hottest massive stars reach 50.000º Celsius. These very high temperatures would be related to the youth of the galaxy, which is in its early stages of development.
Simulations and theories about the galaxy
To better understand what's going on inside GS-NDG-9422, astronomers ran simulations of galactic gas clouds. These simulations showed unusual behavior that matches what Webb detected. The gas glows so brightly because of the emission of extremely bright photons generated by massive, hot stars. Alex Cameron said the discovery was a surprise to the team, as the glow of the gas is much brighter than they expected for a galaxy of this type.
The observed phenomenon resembles that predicted for the stars of the Population III, the first stars to form in the universe, although the stars in 9422 have been ruled out as belonging to this group. This is due to the chemical complexity present in the galaxy, which contradicts what is expected for a galaxy with Population III stars.
Many questions remain, such as whether this phenomenon is common in young galaxies or whether 9422 is an anomaly. Astronomers are continuing to search for more examples of galaxies like this one so they can compare them and better understand how the first galaxies evolved after the Big Bang.
Galaxy 9422 will undoubtedly be the subject of study for many years to come as scientists work to unravel its secrets. But it is not just in galaxies that the James Webb is making its mark; it is also revolutionising science in the search for exoplanets.
GJ 9827d: The world of steam
Another of the recent discoveries thanks to James Webb is that of the exoplanet GJ 9827d, which is located about 100 light years away. This planet has been confirmed as the first “steam world” known, a type of exoplanet with an atmosphere composed almost entirely of boiling water vapor.
Observations made in November 2023 allowed scientists to confirm that the atmosphere of this planet does not contain only traces of water, but is practically full of steam. Temperatures in its atmosphere are estimated to be around 340º Celsius, which turns all the water into steam.
GJ 9827d was discovered in 2017, but until now its composition had not been determined with certainty. Thanks to the combination of observations from the Webb and the Hubble, it has been confirmed that this exoplanet is not simply a wet planet or one with water in its clouds, but a real world in which practically its entire atmosphere is made up of water vapor.
Implications for astrobiology
Although the conditions on GJ 9827d make it an inhospitable place for life as we know it, this discovery is crucial for the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Knowing that it is possible to detect dense atmospheres with elements such as water opens new doors for astrobiological research.
Scientists believe this is just the first of many planets with similar atmospheres that will be discovered in the future. Such planets may offer vital information for understanding planetary evolution and the possible habitability of worlds outside our Solar System.
Ryan MacDonald, one of the astronomers responsible for studying the exoplanet, said that the James Webb is allowing scientists to explore planets beyond what had ever been dreamed of. “We are in the golden age of space exploration,” he said excitedly after the discovery was published.
A future full of possibilities
With each new piece of data from the James Webb telescope, we gain a deeper understanding of the diversity of the cosmos. From galaxies that challenge our previous understandings to planets with compositions never seen before, Webb never ceases to surprise us. The findings of GS-NDG-9422 and GJ 9827d are just the beginning of what promises to be a constant expansion of our knowledge of the universe.
These discoveries bring us ever closer to understanding the first moments after the Big Bang, the conditions of star formation, and the evolution of planetary systems. While it is difficult to predict everything that Webb will teach us in the coming years, what is clear is that we are entering a new era of astronomy. Each observation brings humanity closer to unraveling the greatest secrets of the cosmos.