Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: A research team led by Manipuri astrophysicist Ronaldo Laishram has discovered a massive, ancient galaxy structure dating back 12.6 billion years. Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the study identifies a giant protocluster formed when the universe was only 1.2 billion years old. Laishram, who currently works at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, named the system the Loktak Protocluster to honor his home state.
Astronomers describe a protocluster as a city of galaxies still taking shape under the force of gravity. This specific structure consists of four connected galaxy concentrations. Researchers noted that these clusters share a visual similarity to the floating phumdis found in Manipur's famous lake. By using data from the Subaru Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, the team observed that galaxies in such dense environments developed differently than those in isolated regions, proving that surroundings play a major role in early cosmic growth.
Dr. Laishram is a native of Khangabok in the Thoubal district. His journey in science began early, as he was recognized by former President APJ Abdul Kalam at age 18 for identifying a preliminary asteroid. Beyond his academic work at Tohoku University and in Tokyo, he remains dedicated to science education in Northeast India as the founding coordinator of the Manipur Astronomical Society. The recent findings offer a clearer understanding of how the early universe matured over billions of years.
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