Astronomers recorded a massive intergalactic flow of cold atomic carbon during radio telescope observations. It’s big enough to contribute to the formation of galaxies in 500 million years, according to the scientists who made the observations. The resulting data provide observational evidence to support theoretical cosmological models and shed new light on the origins of the processes and materials that lead to the formation of galaxies and stars.

A research scientist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Dr. Researchers led by Björn Emonts used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to map the atomic carbon surrounding galaxy 4C 41.17.

4C 41.17 is a large radio galaxy from the early universe, which means researchers have to maximize the radio telescope’s surface brightness sensitivity using ALMA’s most compact, low-resolution configuration. According to scientists who published their findings in a new study in the journal Sciencethis low-resolution configuration likely helped them detect a cold molecular flow that had not been noticed in previous studies.

Their observations revealed a narrow stream of cold gas extending beyond the galaxy into intergalactic space at least 100 kiloparsecs (~326,000 light-years). This means that the stream is several times larger than the galaxy it seems to be feeding.

In a press release, the researchers explained that their observations are consistent with cold gas flows predicted by cosmological models. They believe the flow of cold atomic gas could fuel star formation for more than 500 million years. Galaxies often grow and develop through gas buildup. This can happen through mergers with other galaxies, and it can also happen when galaxies are fed by streams of cold molecular gas, like the one found in the new study.

The second type of accumulation is known as cold current accumulation, and some scientists believe it is responsible for the high rates of star formation in the early universe and the rapid evolution of galaxies. However, cold accretion flows are incredibly difficult, meaning the new observation could provide valuable insight into the evolution of some of the oldest galaxies.