University of Virginia astronomer Trinh Thuan formed an international team of scientists to uncover the mystery behind the re-ionization of universe in its early stages of evolution. Matter gradually took shape subsequent to the expansion and cooling down of the universe after the Big Bang. Hereafter, the universe reheated and a process known as cosmic re-ionization occurred that led to ionization of hydrogen. The team is likely to have found an evidence for cosmic re-ionization, while studying the emission of huge volumes of ionizing photons into the intergalactic medium by a compact or a green pea galaxy.

The team analyzed the data from the Hubble Space Telescope's ultraviolet spectrometer and found the above mentioned the closely located compact dwarf galaxy. The photons being emitted by this galaxy is being speculated to be the reason for the re-ionization of the universe. "The finding is significant because it gives us a good place to look for probing the re-ionization phenomenon, which took place early in the formation of the universe that became the universe we have today," said Trinh.

It is necessary that the ionizing photos are emitted into the space between the galaxies or else the gas and dust will simply absorb them before they are able to escape. However, till now the scientists had not been able to discover any such galaxy that emitted considerable amount of ionizing radiation. It was then that the international research team suggested examining green pea galaxies, which are circular and compact like a pea and emerge to be green in color when looked through light sensors. These galaxies are home to strong cosmic explosions or winds that can make emission of ionizing photons possible. After a series of selection, he scientists discovered J0925+1403 galaxy, with an emission rate of about 8%, using the UV radiation capabilities of the Hubble space Telescope.