Using a galaxy cluster that distorts the fabric of space-time like a magnifying glass has helped scientists discover two of the most distant galaxies ever observed. A team of astronomers from the University of Pennsylvania used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to search for distant galaxies hiding behind the Pandora cluster, or Abell 2744, a group of galaxies located 3.5 billion light-years away.

The sheer mass of galaxies in the Pandora cluster creates a cosmic visual effect called gravitational lensing that warps the fabric of space-time, magnifying the light beyond it, Penn State said in a press release about the team’s findings.

Using this natural magnifier, researchers were able to discover two never-before-seen galaxies behind the megacluster located 33 billion light-years from Earth. Only three galaxies this far away have ever been found, but these two are much larger, the research team said.

These two distant galaxies are also special because of their unique shapes. The team said most of the distant galaxies in our images look like dots, but one is shaped like a “peanut” and the other is a “puffy ball” shape. Scientists aren’t exactly sure how galaxies have different shapes even though they’re made of similar materials.

“The light from these galaxies is about three times as old as Earth,” said Joel Ledge, a member of the research team at the University of Pennsylvania. “These early galaxies are like beacons; their light pierces the very thin hydrogen that makes up the early universe,” Leia said. she added. “It is only through their light that we can begin to understand the exotic physics that governs the galaxy near the cosmic dawn.” Source