A major breakthrough in astronomy has been achieved by a team led by Manipuri astrophysicist Ronaldo Laishram, who recently discovered a huge structure of young galaxies that existed nearly 12.6 billion years ago. The finding, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, sheds new light on the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early Universe.
The newly identified structure has been named the “Loktak Protocluster,” inspired by Loktak Lake. Astronomers describe a protocluster as a developing cluster of galaxies similar to a growing “city of galaxies” shaped by gravity over time. Researchers estimate that the structure formed when the Universe was only about 1.2 billion years old.
Scientists found that the protocluster consists of four interconnected groups of galaxies evolving together, resembling the floating phumdis seen on Loktak Lake. Dr. Laishram explained that naming the discovery after the iconic lake was a tribute to his roots and to Manipur’s cultural identity.
The research team carried out the study using observations from the Subaru Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. Their analysis suggests that galaxies located in dense regions of space may have evolved differently from those in less crowded areas, even during the Universe’s earliest stages. This points to the important role that environment plays in galaxy growth and development.
Originally from Khangabok in Manipur’s Thoubal district, Dr. Laishram completed both his Master’s degree and PhD in astronomy at Tohoku University before joining the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. His work mainly focuses on galaxy formation and evolution.
Dr. Laishram developed an interest in astronomy from a young age and discovered a preliminary asteroid at the age of 18, an achievement for which he was honoured by former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Apart from research, he is actively involved in promoting astronomy education in Northeast India through the Manipur Astronomical Society, which he founded. He also mentors students through OviEdu and works with the MitSna Foundation.
The research paper, titled “Discovery of a z ≃ 4.9 Lyα Emitter Protocluster: Wavelength-dependent Environmental Effects on Galaxy Structure,” was co-authored by Dr. Laishram along with an international team of researchers.
