Surprising Teenage Galaxies: Unusual Heat and Unexpected Elements

Astronomers analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered that distant "teenage" galaxies from the early universe appear hotter than expected and contain heavy elements, such as nickel. The researchers focused on 33 galaxies and combined light wavelengths from 23 of them to create a composite picture, revealing the presence of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, sulfur, argon, and nickel. The observation of nickel, which is rarely seen even in older galaxies, suggests a unique chemical composition in these early galaxies. The study provides insights into the evolution and characteristics of galaxies in the early universe.