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Scientists say they have observed the most distant organic molecules known to exist in the universe.
科学家表示，他们已经观测到了宇宙中已知存在的最遥远的有机分子。
Astronomers made the discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope, operated by the American space agency NASA.
天文学家是使用美国航空航天局的詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜发现的。
The kind of organic molecules observed are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.
这种被观测到的有机分子被称为多环芳香烃。
These molecules are considered the basic building blocks for early forms of life.
这种分子被认为是早期生命形式的基本组成部分。
They have a complex structure and are found in many environments on our own planet.
它们结构复杂，在地球上的许多环境中都能找到。
For example, PAHs can be found on Earth in smoke, burned materials and air pollution.
例如，在地球上，可以在烟雾、燃烧的材料和空气污染中发现多环芳香烃。
The molecules were discovered in a galaxy more than 12 billion light years from Earth.
这种分子是在一个距离地球超过120亿光年的星系中发现的。
The scientists say this is the most distant observation of PAHs ever.
科学家表示，这是迄今为止观测到的距离最遥远的多环芳香烃。
Past observations of PAHs have been difficult in distant galaxies because of limitations in infrared telescope technology.
由于红外线望远镜技术的限制，过去很难观测到遥远星系中的多环芳香烃。
But the James Webb's sensitive instruments made the discovery possible, the researchers said.
但研究人员表示，詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜的灵敏仪器使这一发现成为可能。
The team said that because of the extreme distance involved, the light used to make the observation likely began traveling when the universe was less than 1.5 billion years old.
该研究小组表示，由于涉及的距离极远，用于进行观测的光很可能在宇宙年龄不到15亿年的时候就开始传播了。
This is about 10 percent of the universe's current age.
这大约是宇宙当前年龄的10%。
The astronomers recently reported their findings in a study in the publication Nature.
天文学家最近在《自然》杂志上的一项研究中报告了他们的发现。
The targeted galaxy is known as SPT0418-47.
目标星系被称为SPT0418-47。
Scientists had already identified it as a galaxy similar to our own Milky Way in several ways.
科学家已经确认它是一个在多个方面与我们的银河系相似的星系。
But the amount of dust surrounding it made past observations difficult.
但它周围的大量尘埃使过去很难观测到它们。
The researchers said telescope data permitted them to differentiate between infrared signals produced by larger dust particles and those produced by PAHs.
研究人员表示，望远镜数据使他们能够区分较大的尘埃颗粒产生的红外信号和多环芳香烃产生的红外信号。
Justin Spilker is an astronomer at Texas A&M University.
贾斯汀·斯皮尔克是得克萨斯农工大学的天文学家。
He helped lead the research.
他帮助领导了这项研究。
He said in a statement that PAHs are "actually pretty common in space."
他在一份声明中说，多环芳香烃“实际上在太空中很常见”。
But the latest research helped astronomers learn new things about them.
但最新的研究帮助天文学家对它们有了新的了解。
"Astronomers used to think they were a good sign that new stars were forming," Spilker said.
斯皮尔克说：“天文学家过去认为这是新恒星正在形成的好迹象”。
"Anywhere you saw these molecules, baby stars were also right there..." Spilker noted that the power of the James Webb telescope permitted the team to find many areas with smoke but no star formation.
“在你看到这种分子的任何地方，新恒星也在那里……”斯皮尔克指出，詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜的强大功能使研究小组能够发现许多有烟雾但没有恒星形成的区域。
The researchers said an observation method called gravitational lensing also helped them.
研究人员表示，一种名为引力透镜效应的观测方法也对他们有所帮助。
This method involves observing how the gravity of large collections of galaxies can distort the light of more distant galaxies that sit behind the galaxy group, NASA explains.
美国航空航天局解释说，这种方法包括观察大型星系群的引力如何扭曲位于该星系群后面的更遥远星系的光线。
To distort means to change the natural or normal quality of something.
distort的意思是改变某物的自然或正常性质。
Joaquin Vieira is a professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
杰奎因·维埃拉是伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的天文学和物理学教授。
He was a lead researcher on the project.
他是该项目的首席研究员。
Vieira said that the combined abilities of James Webb and gravitational lensing made it possible for the researchers to observe through the dust to identify the PAHs.
维埃拉说，詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜和引力透镜效应的结合能使研究人员有可能透过尘埃观察到多环芳香烃。
Observations of the targeted galaxy suggested it contained gas filled with heavy elements.
对目标星系的观测表明，它含有充满重元素的气体。
This means that generations of stars had already lived and died there, the team said.
该研究小组表示，这意味着已经有数代恒星在那里生活和死亡。
Vieira said the findings were completely unexpected and could be a "game-changer" for future observations of distant galaxies.
维埃拉说，这些发现完全出乎意料，可能会改变未来对遥远星系观测的游戏规则。
"This work is just the first step, and we're just now learning how to use (the telescope) and learn its capabilities."
“这项工作只是第一步，我们现在才刚刚开始学习如何使用望远镜，了解它的功能。”
He added, "We are very excited to see how this plays out."
他补充说，“我们非常期待看到结果。”
The astronomers are looking forward to using the same equipment and methods to find out more about the early formation of the universe.
天文学家们期待着使用同样的设备和方法来发现更多关于宇宙早期形成的信息。
Texas A&M's Spilker said he is "excited to see all the new things" the James Webb can do for astronomers in the future.
得克萨斯农工大学的斯皮尔克说，他很期待看到詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜未来能为天文学家做的所有新事情。
"Detecting smoke in a galaxy early in the history of the universe? Webb makes this look easy," Spilker said.
斯皮尔克说：“在宇宙历史的早期探测到星系中的烟雾？韦伯让这看起来很容易”。
"Now that we've shown this is possible for the first time, we're looking forward to trying to understand whether it's really true that where there's smoke, there's fire," he added.
他补充道：“现在我们已经首次证明了这是可能的，我们期待着试图了解是否真的有烟，真的有火”。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
布莱恩·林恩为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
