In a groundbreaking discovery that has left scientists awe-struck, astronomers have identified the largest and most distant reservoir of water ever detected in the known universe. This remarkable find reveals a colossal body of water that exceeds the combined volume of all water on Earth by a staggering 140 trillion times, as reported by Unilad. Situated around a massive feeding black hole called a quasar, this expansive cosmic water source is located over 12 billion light-years away. Its existence provides a unique insight into the early stages of the universe when it was a mere 1.6 billion years old.

This discovery is a monumental step forward in understanding the prevalence of water in the cosmos. Matt Bradford, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, emphasized the significance of this revelation and its implications. He stated that it showcases the pervasiveness of water throughout the universe, even during its earliest times. The quasar at the center of this discovery, named APM 08279 5255, is home to a supermassive black hole that is an astounding 20 billion times more massive than our sun. It emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns.

The teams of astronomers, including Bradford's, conducted a thorough study of this celestial object and detected various spectral signatures of the immense water mass. This revelation is even more remarkable considering that water vapor had not previously been observed in the early universe. While water exists in other parts of the Milky Way, it is largely frozen in ice. This groundbreaking discovery opens up new avenues of research and exploration in the field of astronomy. In their quest to unravel the mysteries of the distant universe, astronomers proposed the construction of a 25-meter telescope in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Initially named the Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope (CCAT), it was later renamed the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) in 2020. Unfortunately, due to insufficient funding, this ambitious telescope project has been temporarily halted, despite decades of support from Cornell alumnus Fred Young, who generously contributed $16 million. The postponement of the FYST telescope serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in advancing astronomical research amid financial constraints. Astronomers are determined to use advanced telescopic technology to delve deeper into the universe's past and unlock further secrets about its formation and composition. With continued support and funding, the scientific community hopes to witness even more phenomenal discoveries in the future.