Astronomers have discovered 52 previously unseen galaxies.
In the past, most searches focused on galaxies that glow in optical or infrared light because they are actively forming new stars. Because of this, systems where stars are born less intensively remain invisible.
The researchers decided to focus not on the glow of the galaxies, but on the gas clouds from which stars are formed. They used the ALMA telescope in the Atacama Desert to track carbon monoxide and atomic carbon signals indicating the presence of such gas clouds, and also analyzed spectral data that is usually overlooked. The applied method made it possible to see objects that were not recorded by other instruments, including galaxies that were in the process of transitioning to an inactive state.
The gas reserves in these galaxies reach a trillion solar masses, which indicates their great potential for star formation. However, some of the systems found hardly ever form stars.