Monday, October 17, 2016

The universe may have far more galaxies than previously thought – EXAME.com

Sao Paulo – A study conducted over the past 15 years promises to shake up what scientists know about the universe. The research states that there are more galaxies than believed until now. The previous estimate of 100 billion galaxies, can be overcome in up to twenty times.

The work, led by professor Christopher Conselice, University of Nottingham, in the Uk, it is estimated that there are up to two trillions of galaxies. But for that there was a distortion so great previously?

The previous estimate was made using data of the images shot by the Hubble telescope in 1990. In new research, scientists have used mathematical models, a 3D map, images of telescopes and observatories, among other data.

Looking farther into the universe means looking to the past, because of the finite speed of light. To go back in time, scientists have seen major changes. Initially, there is an increase in the density of galaxies as if back to the past. This is natural because they join with the course of time.

But the density grew only up to a certain point. From a certain point, the density decreases. This has brought a deduction important: most distant galaxies were not being seen because they are less bright to the available instruments. “We know that there must be many fainter galaxies beyond the current limits of observation," concludes the study.

The scientists came to the conclusion that 90% of the galaxies are not seen. It would take a telescope more powerful than the current for this. “I always impressiono when I think that more than 90% of the galaxies still need to be studied. Who knows what important properties we will discover when we find these galaxies with future generations of telescopes?”, says Conselice in a statement.

The work, which will be published in the Astrophysical Journal it is important to understand how galaxies have evolved over time. Many of them must have been cast during the first billion years of the universe.

"to Find more galaxies in the past implies that the evolution should have occurred to reduce the number of galaxies, with an extensive fusion systems", explains the scientist.

Now, scientists are waiting for new telescopes more powerful for a more detailed view of the space. One of the tools that should assist in this work is the Space Telescope James Webb, who will be launched by Nasa to observe the dark corners of the universe.

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