Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India helps detect atomic hydrogen from far-away galaxy

Radio signal from 9 billion light-years away from Earth captured.

Astronomers from McGill University, Canada and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have detected a radio signal originating from atomic hydrogen in an extremely distant galaxy using data from the Giant Metre Wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune, India. So far, this is the largest astronomical distance over which such a signal has been picked up. It is also the first confirmed detection of strong lensing of 21 cm emission from a galaxy. The findings have been published in the monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Record-breaking detection of radio signal from atomic hydrogen in extremely distant galaxy using GMRT

Radio signal from 9 billion light-years away captured

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in Pune helps detect atomic hydrogen from far-away galaxy

 

We need to send them a reply quickly, before the person who sent it dies. Needless to say, then keep a note in the diary, to look out for a reply 18 billion years from now.

That is the whole problem with looking at distant galaxies that even if they supported life then, may not do so now.

 

Are they wondering how nascent hydrogen can exist, without forming into molecules. If monatomic gasses could exist, what would happen to us if we paid them a visit.
Perhaps we would literally be blown into atoms, or our oxygen converted into water. Those atoms are hungry beasts.

 

Essentially the focus is on understanding the evolution of galaxies by tracking the evolution of neutral gas.

The signal captured could mean that scientists can start investigating the formation of some of the earliest stars and galaxies, and perhaps even determine the age of the universe or time lapsed from the Big Bang.

 

Atomic hydrogen is the basic fuel required for star formation in a galaxy. When hot ionised gas from the surrounding medium of a galaxy falls onto the universe, the gas cools and forms atomic hydrogen. This then becomes molecular hydrogen and eventually leads to the formation of stars.

I think the term atomic hydrogen is often misunderstood. It immediately combines into H2 molecules, which can combine with oxygen to form water, From there, life can be supported if the conditions are correct.
Many scientists who study the universe seem to have a language of their own, sometimes ignoring the basic rules of physical chemistry. However, the end product is the same.

 

PS. Am I correct in thinking that you are from and studied in India. the country has added a lot to understanding the universe and their medical schools are among the best in the world.

 

Indian researchers uncover most detailed picture yet of Galaxy Cluster using uGMRT

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