In a groundbreaking astronomical discovery, an international team of scientists has uncovered a massive structure of young galaxies dating back 12.6 billion years. Led by Manipuri astrophysicist Dr. Ronaldo Laishram, the team has named this ancient cosmic structure the “Loktak Protocluster,” paying tribute to Manipur’s iconic Loktak Lake.
Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the study reveals that this “city of galaxies” existed when the Universe was just 1.2 billion years old. The protocluster features four interconnected concentrations of galaxies evolving together under the force of gravity. Dr. Laishram, currently a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), noted that the interconnected nature of these early galaxies closely mirrors the famous floating phumdis (islands) of Loktak Lake, making the name a deeply fitting tribute to his home state.
Utilizing state-of-the-art observations from the Subaru Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, the researchers found that galaxies in dense environments were already evolving differently from those in isolated regions. This suggests that a galaxy’s cosmic surroundings heavily influence its growth and development from the Universe’s earliest epochs.
Hailing from Khangabok in Manipur’s Thoubal district, Dr. Laishram’s passion for astronomy began early; at just 18, he discovered a preliminary asteroid and was felicitated by former President APJ Abdul Kalam. After earning his PhD from Tohoku University, he has continued to bridge the gap between global science and his roots. Beyond his research, Dr. Laishram actively promotes space science in Northeast India as the founding coordinator of the Manipur Astronomical Society, ensuring that this historic discovery inspires the next generation of Indian scientists.
