These Special Galaxies Lit Up the Cosmic Noon

Star formation peaked during the Cosmic Noon, which spanned from 10 to 12 billion years ago. During Cosmic Noon, star formation was 10 to 100 times greater than it is now. New research shows that a particular class of galaxy was experiencing its first intense burst of star formation during this time. Were these galaxies the progenitors of galaxies like the Milky Way?

Jun 19, 2025 - 20:10

These Special Galaxies Lit Up the Cosmic Noon

This image shows the Milky Way over the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, with Rutgers graduate student Nicole Firestone in silhouette. Firestone is the lead author of new research into galaxies in the Cosmic Noon. Image Credit: Nicole Firestone/Rutgers University

Star formation peaked during the Cosmic Noon, which spanned from 10 to 12 billion years ago. During Cosmic Noon, star formation was 10 to 100 times greater than it is now. New research shows that a particular class of galaxy was experiencing its first intense burst of star formation during this time. Were these galaxies the progenitors of galaxies like the Milky Way?