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Scientists Discover Massive Water Reservoir 12 Billion Light-Years Away

11/2/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers have identified the largest and most distant reservoir of water, located about 12 billion light-years away in the quasar APM 08279+5255, containing roughly 140 trillion times Earth's oceans.
The quasar surrounds a supermassive black hole and emits significant energy, indicating water is prevalent in the early universe.
Matt Bradford of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) led the study, underscoring conditions around APM 08279+5255 that enable a large water presence.

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Story summary

Astronomers have identified the largest and most distant reservoir of water, located about 12 billion light-years away in the quasar APM 08279+5255, containing roughly 140 trillion times Earth's oceans.
The quasar surrounds a supermassive black hole and emits significant energy, indicating water is prevalent in the early universe.
Matt Bradford of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) led the study, underscoring conditions around APM 08279+5255 that enable a large water presence.