TOH edition: Tuesday, 8 September 2026 · Science & Technology
Holding Millions of Suns’ Worth of Matter but Not a Single Star: Vast Invisible Clouds Discovered in Deep Space
Reported by Phys.org
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Astronomers operating China's FAST radio telescope have discovered two gigantic clouds of primordial hydrogen gas drifting near the Whirlpool galaxy, each containing roughly three million times the mass of our sun while remaining completely starless. Because these vast reservoirs omit optical starlight, they had remained undetected until picked up by sensitive radio frequencies. The observation provides astrophysicists with a rare window into the quiet, invisible gas reserves that fuel galactic evolution across cosmic time.
Reveals unseen primordial reservoirs shaping galaxies, demonstrating how advanced telescopes continue to unveil the vast, quiet architecture of the cosmos right next to familiar celestial landmarks.
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