Colossal Water Vapour Cloud Found 12 Billion Light-Years Away

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a massive reservoir of water surrounding a quasar over 12 billion light-years away, providing a rare glimpse into the early universe. This quasar, designated as APM 08279+5255, encircles a supermassive black hole that is a staggering 20 billion times the mass of our Sun and emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns. This extraordinary system harbors an astonishing 140 trillion times the volume of Earth’s oceans in the form of water vapor, making it not only the largest but also the most distant known water source in the cosmos.

The environment around this quasar is remarkable, enriched with hydrogen-rich gases such as water vapor and carbon monoxide, extending across a region hundreds of light-years in diameter. Although the gas is sparse when compared to Earth’s atmospheric standards, it is considerably denser and warmer than typical galactic conditions. This phenomenon is attributed to the quasar’s intense radiation, which actively energizes the surrounding gas, fostering star formation and potentially fueling the black hole’s growth, with predictions suggesting it could increase its mass by up to six times.

The discovery underscores the critical role water plays in the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. By cooling gas clouds, water enables the processes necessary for star creation. The presence of such vast quantities of water so early in the universe’s history suggests that the essential building blocks for life existed billions of years ago, potentially influencing cosmic development.

This monumental finding was made possible through advanced technologies, including the Z-Spec instrument at Hawaii’s Caltech Submillimeter Observatory and the Plateau de Bure Interferometer in France. These tools confirmed the presence of the water-rich environment surrounding the quasar. This discovery offers a unique window into the formative stages of the universe, shedding light on the origins and evolution of galaxies, supermassive black holes, and other cosmic structures across billions of years.