Toronto: In a discovery that may prove
alien worlds are not only science fiction, a Canadian
scientist has claimed to have found evidence of new stars and
solar systems outside the Milky Way.
Erin Mentuch from the University of Toronto, who
analysed 88 remote galaxies using their light output data from
the Gemini Deep Deep Survey, discovered alien worlds beyond
our own galaxy for the first time.
While analysing the data, Mentuch found that the light
was emitted from the galaxies when the Universe was between a
third and a half its current age - some seven to 10 billion
years ago.
According to the research which will be published in The
Astrophysics Journal, the galaxies were far too remote to view
stars individually but their light output was found to peak at
two distinct wavelengths.
The short wavelength was the
combined light of a galaxy's stars while the longer came from
the glowing interstellar dust.
However, the scientist noticed there was a faint third
component between the peaks. This mysterious light was too
cold to be produced by stars but too warm to be dust.
She concluded it was most likely caused by
circumstellar discs - swirling clouds of dust and gas forming
young solar systems around infant stars.
"It's the most surprising result I've ever worked on,"
said Mentuch's supervisor Roberto Abraham, who collaborated on
the project.
The discovery may show how the rate of planet formation
has changed over billions of years, the Daily Mail reported.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 05, 2009, 17:01