According to recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a “cosmic question mark” shape was spotted in deep space, which is believed to be a pair of interacting galaxies situated very far away, potentially billions of light-years distant, creating the distorted question mark appearance due to gravitational lensing; this is not located specifically 55 light-years away, but rather much further out in the universe. 

Key points about the “cosmic question mark”: 

• Distant galaxies interacting:The most likely explanation is that the question mark shape is formed by two galaxies in close proximity, interacting with each other gravitationally, causing their appearance to be distorted. 
• Red color indicates distance:The red color of the object in the JWST image suggests that it is very far away. 
• Gravitational lensing:The peculiar shape might be due to a phenomenon called gravitational lensing, where a massive object like a galaxy cluster bends light from behind it, creating multiple images of the same object. 

Galaxies interact with each other through gravity, exchanging stars and affecting each other’s structures. This process can lead to mergers, starbursts, and the formation of new galaxies: 

• MergersWhen two galaxies collide and don’t have enough momentum to keep moving, they merge into one. If one galaxy is much larger than the other, the smaller galaxy will be absorbed into the larger one. 
• StarburstsWhen galaxies interact, the gas clouds in their disks are compressed, which can trigger a burst of new star formation. Galaxies that are undergoing a lot of star formation are called starburst galaxies. 
• New galaxiesGalaxies can merge to form new galaxies. For example, the Milky Way formed through mergers with smaller galaxies. 

Here are some examples of interacting galaxies:

• The Antennae GalaxiesA composite image of these galaxies shows the different types of light they emit, including radio, infrared, visible, and X-ray. The image highlights distorted spiral arms, bright galaxy centers, and glowing gas. 
• Arp 142The Hubble and Webb telescopes have captured images of this interacting galaxy. 

The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are on a collision course that could result in a future merger. 

Yes, in terms of visual perception, the color red often indicates a greater distance because it has the longest wavelength of visible light, meaning it is scattered the least by air molecules and can be seen from further away, making it a common choice for danger signals and distant markers. 

Key points about red and distance: 

• Wavelength: Red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum. 
• Scattering: Due to its long wavelength, red light scatters the least through the atmosphere, allowing it to travel further. 
• Application: This is why traffic lights use red to signify “stop” as it can be seen from a long distance. 

Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon that occurs when a massive object, such as a galaxy cluster or a planet, bends light from a distant source as it travels towards an observer: 

This happens because the object’s mass warps space and time, causing light to bend, distort, and magnify as it passes around it. The object that causes the light to bend is called a gravitational lens. 

Gravitational lensing is a key example of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime. In 1919, British astronomers Arthur Stanley Eddington, Frank Watson Dyson, and Andrew Crommelin proved Einstein’s theory by observing a total solar eclipse. 

Gravitational lensing has many applications, including:

• Observing distant objectsAstronomers can use gravitational lensing to observe objects that would otherwise be too far away to see. 
• Detecting dark matterGravitational lensing can reveal the presence of dark matter, even though it can’t be seen directly. 
• Studying gravitational lensesResearchers can study the gravitational effects of gravitational lenses themselves. 

Some well-known examples of gravitational lensing include the Einstein cross and Einstein ring

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