Most Distant Galaxy Gives Clues to Early Universe

NinjaT writes "From CNN, 'Scientists said on Wednesday that they have found the most distant galaxy yet, nearly 13 billion light-years away, in a discovery that could help explain how stars were formed at the dawn of time. The galaxy, named IOK-1, is so far away that the light waves that reached Earth depict it as the system of stars existed shortly after the Big Bang created the universe 13.66 billion years ago. That period, known to astronomers as the Dark Ages, saw the formation of the first stars and galaxies from elementary particles. Scientists had been unable to directly observe that time period until now.'"

Comments

Not quite science reporting

[svunt]

Whoever wrote up the Reuters summary that CNN are running must've been filling in for the science reporter.

I was well impressed by this guy confirming the Big Bang, and its precise timing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the exact origin of the universe and its date were still debated issues. We've changed the age of the universe enough times that you'd want to be wary about putting two decimal places in your statement.

Disclaimer: I'm not a creationist or one of the "evolution's a theory, not a fact" crowd, I just like my science to come appropriately qualified.

Re:Not quite science reporting

[svunt]

Yep, all in all, whoever wrote this really lacks any understanding of the scientific process. I'm sure the astronomers who made the find would've been a little bit more careful about their claims than the article suggests.