This water deposit is one of the largest found by science to date. A group of astronomers announces the discovery of the largest water reserve in the universe. The amount far exceeds all of Earth’s oceans combined and offers important clues about the origins of life and the evolution of the cosmos.
Where is the largest water reserve in the universe?
The reservoir appears 12 billion light-years from Earth, around the quasar APM 08279+5255, an extremely luminous object that feeds on a supermassive black hole. It is a large cloud of water vapour equivalent to 140 trillion Earth’s oceans, the most massive and distant accumulation identified to date.
What is a quasar and why is there water?
Quasars are active galaxy nuclei that shine so brightly that they outshine all their stars. In this case, the quasar contains a black hole 20 billion times more massive than the Sun, capable of generating the energy of a thousand billion suns. The matter surrounding the black hole heats up and releases radiation. This environment allows molecules such as water vapour, which extends for hundreds of light years, to be detected.
What does this discovery change about water in the universe?
Previously, it was thought that water had appeared long after the Big Bang, but recent studies by the University of Portsmouth show that the first water molecules existed between 100 and 200 million years after the Big Bang, thanks to the explosions of the first stars, called Population III supernovae. This means that the conditions for life arose much earlier than previously thought, which opens up new possibilities for the existence of habitable planets.
Why is it important for science?
This unique discovery is fundamental to science for the following reasons:
- It shows that water has been present in the universe since its earliest stages.
- It confirms that there are colossal reserves in distant and extreme areas of the cosmos.
- It helps us understand how galaxies, stars, and planets formed at the origins of the universe.
The detection of this water reserve marks a turning point in space exploration. Beyond its magnitude, it offers a new perspective in which water could be much more widespread in the universe than previously thought.
