JWST Uncovers 'Red Potato': A Massive, Quiescent Galaxy From the Early Universe

Astronomers confirm discovery of a surprisingly mature galaxy existing shortly after the Big Bang.

An international team utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified a previously unknown, massive galaxy, which researchers have nicknamed "Red Potato." The galaxy is notable for being exceptionally large and "quiescent," meaning it has ceased forming stars, despite existing in a very early epoch of the universe, only a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.

This finding challenges current models of galaxy formation, which typically predict that galaxies of this size and maturity should take much longer to develop. The existence of a "Red Potato" suggests that the processes driving early galaxy evolution might be faster or more efficient than previously theorized.

The research, published recently, confirms the galaxy's high mass and lack of current star formation activity, providing crucial observational data for cosmologists seeking to map the universe's first billion years.

References :

arXiv - A Quiescent Galaxy in a Gas-Rich Cosmic Web Node at z~3

Phys.org - 'Red Potato' galaxy discovered by astronomers