NASA has detected a massive water reservoir

This remarkable discovery provides a rare glimpse into the composition of the universe when it was just 1.6 billion years old, significantly younger than its current age of approximately 13.8 billion years.## Cosmic water reservoirs and their significance.

The massive water vapor cloud was detected in 2011 surrounding the quasar APM 08279+5255. Unlike water in our galaxy, which typically exists as ice, this distant reservoir exists as gas, heated by the tremendous energy output of the quasar. The temperature in this region reaches approximately -63°C, considerably warmer than typical galactic environments. The water vapor density is up to 100 times greater than comparable regions elsewhere in the universe.

This discovery dramatically changes our timeline for water formation in the cosmos. Scientists previously believed water appeared later in universal evolution, after the formation of the first galaxies. The presence of such abundant water in the early universe suggests it may have played a crucial role in the formation of the first stars and planets. As water molecules are key components in the chemistry of life, this finding reinvigorates the search for potentially habitable worlds throughout the universe.